Daily Lectionary Readings for December 2, 2010
Psalm 18:1-20
Isaiah 2:5-22
1 Thessalonians 3:1-13
Luke 20:27-40
Luke 20:27-40
Some Saducees ask Jesus as question about a woman who marries a man with several brouthers. Her husband dies so his brother marries her and then he dies so another brother marries her...the wrap up to the question is in the final analysis whose wife will she be in the resurrection. It reminds me of an episode of the Simpsons where Bart is in Sunday School asking questions of the teacher about a man with a prosthetic leg. Bart wants to know if the man dies and goes to heaven does the leg go with him. These are the sort of questions that flit through our minds at times when we think about the bridge between this life and the next and matters of faith, but they are questions that at the end of the day I'm not much interested in and find missing the point. There is a life beyond this one. God will be there and by God's grace I hope to be there as well. What it will look like I can't begin to know, understand or explain. I don't for a moment discourage anyone from giving as much thought, very specfic thought to what that future might hold, but I'm satisfied with the general overview. Jesus words about God being the God of Abraham and Isaac are fascinating. "So he is the God of the living, for they are all alive to him."(v.38) There is our perspective and there is God's perspective. Trouble ensues when we try to puzzle out too much of what God sees as we very much struggle with such a task engaging it from our perspective.
Another Night At The UK Medical Center...
Stayed Monday and Tuesday night with my mother-in-law at Markey Cancer Center in Lexington. And am back here tonight. She is recovering from an 8 hour surgery for ovarian cancer three weeks ago yesterday. The recovery has been a one step forward, two steps back proposition to this point, but we are hopeful we are on the right track. She will hopefully be regaining her strength so that chemo can begin before too long. Prayers are appreciated. Her name is Joy.
World Cup Bid
FIFA announced host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments this morning - or whatever time it was in Switzerland. 2018 went to Russia (not England or Spain/Portugal) and 2022 went to Qatar (not the USA or Australia). I can sort of see the 2018 result - not agree with, but see. The 2022 is baffling to me. Qatar has 3 stadiums presently built of the 12 they will need for the competition. It is miserably hot in Qatar at the time of year when the WC will be played. They are building air conidtioned stadiums apparently. Disappointed that we don't have a World Cup in the United States to look forward to. And hoping, if we qualify for the 2022 World Cup, that we get Qatar in our group as they have never played in a World Cup and would be unlikely to play in one by then except for the fact that they are the host.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Calling Evil By Name - December 1,2010
Daily Lectionary for December 1, 2010
Psalm 50
Isaiah 2:1-4
1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
Luke 20:19-26
1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
"We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul tried again and again, but Satan prevented us."(v.18)
Who talks like this? "Satan prevented us." Really? I don't think you hear this sort of statement much in 2010. I know I don't say things like this very often. As I think about it, maybe it would be helpful to talk this way a little more. While I don't think it's helpful to think of Satan as a red version of the Duke mascot with a little pitchfork and pointy tail, I do think there is something to be gained by speaking about evil in a way that recognizes that it isn't random, but rather the product of intent. Paul senses the call to return to visit the people of Thessalonica and tries multiple times, but each time the plans don't work out. What could be simply viewed as the frustrating way things fall together (or apart) he instead views as meeting intentional opposition from Satan. Which, rather than making him loopy, makes him highly sensible. If he believes he is acting in a way that is in accord with God's will and if he believes that way is being blocked it makes sense that what stands in the way of God's will is evil. Not to push this too far - it is certainly worthy of examination when we think we are doing God's will to be sure that it's not our will we are trying to carry out - but Jesus wasn't shy about talking about evil, Paul doesn't seem to step back from it and perhaps there is something for us to gain in calling that which thwarts God's will by its name. What do you think?
Psalm 50
Isaiah 2:1-4
1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
Luke 20:19-26
1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
"We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul tried again and again, but Satan prevented us."(v.18)
Who talks like this? "Satan prevented us." Really? I don't think you hear this sort of statement much in 2010. I know I don't say things like this very often. As I think about it, maybe it would be helpful to talk this way a little more. While I don't think it's helpful to think of Satan as a red version of the Duke mascot with a little pitchfork and pointy tail, I do think there is something to be gained by speaking about evil in a way that recognizes that it isn't random, but rather the product of intent. Paul senses the call to return to visit the people of Thessalonica and tries multiple times, but each time the plans don't work out. What could be simply viewed as the frustrating way things fall together (or apart) he instead views as meeting intentional opposition from Satan. Which, rather than making him loopy, makes him highly sensible. If he believes he is acting in a way that is in accord with God's will and if he believes that way is being blocked it makes sense that what stands in the way of God's will is evil. Not to push this too far - it is certainly worthy of examination when we think we are doing God's will to be sure that it's not our will we are trying to carry out - but Jesus wasn't shy about talking about evil, Paul doesn't seem to step back from it and perhaps there is something for us to gain in calling that which thwarts God's will by its name. What do you think?
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
"Our Purpose Is To Please God" - November 30, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 30, 2010
Psalm 33
Isaiah 1:21-31
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Luke 20:9-18
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
"Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts."
Paul is speaking about his motivation which he identifies as pleasing God. In pleasing God he is sharing good news and speaking hard truths to people. The good news and the hard truths are both for the good which is why they are pleasing to God. Paul states that God alone is capable of examining the motives of our hearts. While this can mean that no other person can really examine our deepest motivations it is also true that this knowledge applies to us as well. We can tell the story of our motivations to ourselves in ways that are, in fact, not in line with the reality of things. God made us and God sees into our hearts. Our purpose is to please God, because not only is God the only one who can examine the motives of our hearts; God alone is also the only one whose desires for our hearts to be pure. In seeking to please God we come as close as we can to doing the right thing - not because we want to do right, but because God's will for us is invariably right.
If our purpose is to please God, which would seem to be an ideal and worthy purpose then our first task is to discover what pleases God. Which draws us back again to Scripture and to prayer. So many things point us in this fundamental direction. We need to know God. Our most reliable approach to God is our intentional devotional practices - reading Scripture, worshipping, praying. Seeking what is pleasing to God so that we may live towards that purpose.
Psalm 33
Isaiah 1:21-31
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Luke 20:9-18
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
"Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts."
Paul is speaking about his motivation which he identifies as pleasing God. In pleasing God he is sharing good news and speaking hard truths to people. The good news and the hard truths are both for the good which is why they are pleasing to God. Paul states that God alone is capable of examining the motives of our hearts. While this can mean that no other person can really examine our deepest motivations it is also true that this knowledge applies to us as well. We can tell the story of our motivations to ourselves in ways that are, in fact, not in line with the reality of things. God made us and God sees into our hearts. Our purpose is to please God, because not only is God the only one who can examine the motives of our hearts; God alone is also the only one whose desires for our hearts to be pure. In seeking to please God we come as close as we can to doing the right thing - not because we want to do right, but because God's will for us is invariably right.
If our purpose is to please God, which would seem to be an ideal and worthy purpose then our first task is to discover what pleases God. Which draws us back again to Scripture and to prayer. So many things point us in this fundamental direction. We need to know God. Our most reliable approach to God is our intentional devotional practices - reading Scripture, worshipping, praying. Seeking what is pleasing to God so that we may live towards that purpose.
Monday, November 29, 2010
The Waiting Is The Hardest Part - November 29, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 29, 2010
Psalm 69:1-15
Isaiah 1:10-20
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Luke 20:1-8
Psalm 69:1-15
A good one for when things haven't been going well and still aren't going well. The Psalmist is asking both for help ("Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck") and for patience to wait on the Lord's answer ("...my prayer is to you O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God in the abundance of yoru steadfast love, answer me.") Both practices - going to the Lord in prayer when answers are elusive and times are challenging and seeking the patience to live through the storm and wait on God's answers. Waiting on God's acceptable time falls in nicely with the Advent theme of waiting on God. This waiting is often not a passive or easy thing, waiting can be difficult, even excruciating. As we discussed in Sunday School yesterday at Hebron, it's not always a choosing between two obvious choices - one good, one bad - often times it is a slow process of discernment between two seemingly meritorious choices, and that requires waiting, waiting, waiting.
Isaiah 1:1-10
Rather comes at waiting from another angle. The activity described in verses 10-15 seems to be empty activity aiming at busyness rather than anything of substance. God is said to be tired of the "multitude of sacrifices", has had "enough of burnt offerings" and cannot "endure solemn assemblies". Rather than many and elaborate worship experiences the people are called upon to do something basic and visceral - repent. "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, remove the evil of your doings from my eyes." "Learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow." Repent and do good. Tasks of preparation for Christ's advent.
Waiting...
It is easy to write about waiting.
It is not so easy to wait.
It is easy to wait conceptually.
It is not so easy to wait when you are actually anticipating something.
Or when you need something.
Tom Petty was right.
(The waiting is, at times, the hardest part.)
Psalm 69:1-15
Isaiah 1:10-20
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Luke 20:1-8
Psalm 69:1-15
A good one for when things haven't been going well and still aren't going well. The Psalmist is asking both for help ("Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck") and for patience to wait on the Lord's answer ("...my prayer is to you O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God in the abundance of yoru steadfast love, answer me.") Both practices - going to the Lord in prayer when answers are elusive and times are challenging and seeking the patience to live through the storm and wait on God's answers. Waiting on God's acceptable time falls in nicely with the Advent theme of waiting on God. This waiting is often not a passive or easy thing, waiting can be difficult, even excruciating. As we discussed in Sunday School yesterday at Hebron, it's not always a choosing between two obvious choices - one good, one bad - often times it is a slow process of discernment between two seemingly meritorious choices, and that requires waiting, waiting, waiting.
Isaiah 1:1-10
Rather comes at waiting from another angle. The activity described in verses 10-15 seems to be empty activity aiming at busyness rather than anything of substance. God is said to be tired of the "multitude of sacrifices", has had "enough of burnt offerings" and cannot "endure solemn assemblies". Rather than many and elaborate worship experiences the people are called upon to do something basic and visceral - repent. "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, remove the evil of your doings from my eyes." "Learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow." Repent and do good. Tasks of preparation for Christ's advent.
Waiting...
It is easy to write about waiting.
It is not so easy to wait.
It is easy to wait conceptually.
It is not so easy to wait when you are actually anticipating something.
Or when you need something.
Tom Petty was right.
(The waiting is, at times, the hardest part.)
First Sunday of Advent - Keep Awake - November 28,2010
Daily Lectionary for November 28, 2010
Psalm 10
Isaiah 1:1-9
2 Peter 3:1-10
Matthew 25:1-13
2 Peter 3:1-10
Sounding like today's Sunday lectionary Gospel (Matthew 24:36-44) we find this verse - "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief..."(v.10) This passage speaks about the way time moves as humans experience it and the way that it is experienced by God. In short, what seems like a long time to us may not be such a long time to God. An important idea as we come again into the season of Advent, both remembering the advent of Christ as an infant in Bethlehem AND looking ahead to the advent of Christ when he comes again. Some two thousand years since the time of Christ with Christianity perhaps losing some of its sense of urgency in awaiting the return of Christ the reminder that Christ, in God's good time, could come at any moment is an important message of the season.
Matthew 25:1-13
Similar theme here - "Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
Psalm 10
Isaiah 1:1-9
2 Peter 3:1-10
Matthew 25:1-13
2 Peter 3:1-10
Sounding like today's Sunday lectionary Gospel (Matthew 24:36-44) we find this verse - "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief..."(v.10) This passage speaks about the way time moves as humans experience it and the way that it is experienced by God. In short, what seems like a long time to us may not be such a long time to God. An important idea as we come again into the season of Advent, both remembering the advent of Christ as an infant in Bethlehem AND looking ahead to the advent of Christ when he comes again. Some two thousand years since the time of Christ with Christianity perhaps losing some of its sense of urgency in awaiting the return of Christ the reminder that Christ, in God's good time, could come at any moment is an important message of the season.
Matthew 25:1-13
Similar theme here - "Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
Zechariah and Jesus - November 27, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 27, 2010
Psalm 57
Zechariah 14:12-21
Philippians 2:1-11
Luke 19:41-48
Zechariah 14:12-21
"And there shall no longer be traders in the house of the Lord of hosts on that day."(v.21)
This verse, the last verse of Zechariah, brings to mind the event of Jesus clearing the moneychangers from the Temple. Perhaps in his indignation in the moment when he was in the Temple that day, this verse from Zechariah may have flashed in his mind.
Luke 19:41-48
Speaking of Jesus cleansing the Temple.(vs.45-48) The story here immediately follows Jesus lament over Jerusalem. Jesus weeps looking down at what Jerusalem has become, hot on the heels of the triumphal entry and perhaps in his mind asking how one moves from that moment to events that will lead to his death. From that moment of poignantly taking in a view of the great city Jesus walks into a very specific situation in the Temple and righteous indignation bursts forth. Again, perhaps the words of Zechariah were in his mind as he sent the money changers packing.
Psalm 57
Zechariah 14:12-21
Philippians 2:1-11
Luke 19:41-48
Zechariah 14:12-21
"And there shall no longer be traders in the house of the Lord of hosts on that day."(v.21)
This verse, the last verse of Zechariah, brings to mind the event of Jesus clearing the moneychangers from the Temple. Perhaps in his indignation in the moment when he was in the Temple that day, this verse from Zechariah may have flashed in his mind.
Luke 19:41-48
Speaking of Jesus cleansing the Temple.(vs.45-48) The story here immediately follows Jesus lament over Jerusalem. Jesus weeps looking down at what Jerusalem has become, hot on the heels of the triumphal entry and perhaps in his mind asking how one moves from that moment to events that will lead to his death. From that moment of poignantly taking in a view of the great city Jesus walks into a very specific situation in the Temple and righteous indignation bursts forth. Again, perhaps the words of Zechariah were in his mind as he sent the money changers packing.
The Stones Would Cry Out - November 26, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 26, 2010
Psalm 54
Zechariah14:1-11
Romans 15:7-13
Luke 19:28-40
Luke 19:28-40
"'He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."(v.40)
Luke's Palm Sunday account. Reading the Palm Sunday account always always brings to mind walking the Palm Sunday route when visiting Jerusalem. You wind your way down from the Mount of Olives down into the Kidron Valley and find yourself looking up towards the gates of the Old City of Jerusalem. At the foot of the hill is the Church of All Nations where the Garden of Gethsemane is located. On that hillside is where many Jewish pilgrims would camp during the time of the Passover festival. It's not difficult to imagine the grandeur of the Temple sitting up on the mountain - the crown jewel of Jerusalem, the city on a hill and to picture Jesus, the peasant preacher from the Galilee being greeted as King and conquering hero by a people starving for a liberator warrior. And as you walk down the hill and look to the left you see centuries worth of Jewish graves, many with stones stacked on them, the Jewish way of demonstrating respect when one visits a grave. And with all of those stones stacked on all of those graves one hears Jesus' words (above) echoing across the centuries from the pages of scripture, uttered in response to the Pharisees asking him to silence his followers. The dead would bear witness - the stones would cry out.
Psalm 54
Zechariah14:1-11
Romans 15:7-13
Luke 19:28-40
Luke 19:28-40
"'He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."(v.40)
Luke's Palm Sunday account. Reading the Palm Sunday account always always brings to mind walking the Palm Sunday route when visiting Jerusalem. You wind your way down from the Mount of Olives down into the Kidron Valley and find yourself looking up towards the gates of the Old City of Jerusalem. At the foot of the hill is the Church of All Nations where the Garden of Gethsemane is located. On that hillside is where many Jewish pilgrims would camp during the time of the Passover festival. It's not difficult to imagine the grandeur of the Temple sitting up on the mountain - the crown jewel of Jerusalem, the city on a hill and to picture Jesus, the peasant preacher from the Galilee being greeted as King and conquering hero by a people starving for a liberator warrior. And as you walk down the hill and look to the left you see centuries worth of Jewish graves, many with stones stacked on them, the Jewish way of demonstrating respect when one visits a grave. And with all of those stones stacked on all of those graves one hears Jesus' words (above) echoing across the centuries from the pages of scripture, uttered in response to the Pharisees asking him to silence his followers. The dead would bear witness - the stones would cry out.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thanksgiving Day Edition - November 25, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 25, 2010 - Thanksgiving Day
Psalm 12
Zecheriah 13:1-9
Ephesians 1:15-23
Luke 19:11-27
Zecheriah 13:1-9
Couple of fairly random observations from this passage.
Random observation #1 - V.4 mentions the prophets "will not put on a hairy mantle in order to deceive." Which makes me wonder about whether there was some expectation that someone in the prophetic office was expected to don a "hairy mantle" which puts me in the mind of John the Baptist. My study Bible offers cross references with passages in 1 Kings 19:13, 19 and 2 Kings 2:8, 13.
Random observation #2 - V.5 mentions prophets who will self-identify as something other than prophets, in this instance, "tillers of the soil". This brings to mind Amos and his assertion that he's not a prophet, but a vindedresser. See, I said random.
Ephesians 1:15-23
Paul speaks here about having the "eyes of your heart enlightened". When the eyes of our hearts are enlightened we see things as they are. We see our need. We see what God has done that only God has done. We see the futility of the worlds solutions and the brilliance of God's bold plan. We see that scarcity is a plot and abundance - God's abundance - is what we are made for. Good passage for Thanksgiving Day. When we see with the eyes of our hearts we see how thankful we should be for all that God has done, is doing and has promised to do.
Luke 19:11-27
Jesus parable of the ten pounds. One slave is given ten pounds, one five and one is given one. The ten and the five pound recipients double their gift and return it to their master. The one, in fear, hides the one and is glad to return it to get it out of his hands. Going backto the observations from the Ephesians passage the fearful slave saw with the eyes of fear rather than the eyes of his heart. He embraced scarcity rather than the abundance of God's gift. It is not about socking it away (our gifts, talents and abilities) in order to presever them - it is about seeing what God wants us to do with these gifts.
Thanksgiving 2010
An odd Thanksgiving for us, but a good one. Our natural rhythym is to go to Julie's parents home for Thanksgiving and to share a big meal on Thankgiving Day with her family including her brother. Christmas is usually at our house and we without fail assemble again at that time. You come to take this for granted. Utnil this year when Julie's mom has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Went through an eight hour surgery two weeks and one day ago and, after being home from the hospital over the weekend, went back in on Tuesday. We scrambled a bit. Ordered a Thanksgiving dinner takeout from Cracker Barrel which we'll use as the basis for the big meal on Friday (into Saturday). And just the four of us had Thanksgiving Dinner at Cracker Barrel in Berea. Her mom was released from the hospital in the early evening and is home now. Following our Cracker Barrel meal our family went and saw the new Harry Potter movie. So I'm thankful for J.K. Rowling and for Cracker Barrel and for a Dr. with communication gifts and good commons sense. I'm thankful for Julie and Cameron and Eliza. I'm thankful that I get to put up with children who argue with each other as I know I'll miss it when they don't anymore. I'm thankful for days when things are not as they should be, for odd Thanksgivings if you will, because they point out how magnificent so many family gatherings have been and how richly God has blessed us.
Psalm 12
Zecheriah 13:1-9
Ephesians 1:15-23
Luke 19:11-27
Zecheriah 13:1-9
Couple of fairly random observations from this passage.
Random observation #1 - V.4 mentions the prophets "will not put on a hairy mantle in order to deceive." Which makes me wonder about whether there was some expectation that someone in the prophetic office was expected to don a "hairy mantle" which puts me in the mind of John the Baptist. My study Bible offers cross references with passages in 1 Kings 19:13, 19 and 2 Kings 2:8, 13.
Random observation #2 - V.5 mentions prophets who will self-identify as something other than prophets, in this instance, "tillers of the soil". This brings to mind Amos and his assertion that he's not a prophet, but a vindedresser. See, I said random.
Ephesians 1:15-23
Paul speaks here about having the "eyes of your heart enlightened". When the eyes of our hearts are enlightened we see things as they are. We see our need. We see what God has done that only God has done. We see the futility of the worlds solutions and the brilliance of God's bold plan. We see that scarcity is a plot and abundance - God's abundance - is what we are made for. Good passage for Thanksgiving Day. When we see with the eyes of our hearts we see how thankful we should be for all that God has done, is doing and has promised to do.
Luke 19:11-27
Jesus parable of the ten pounds. One slave is given ten pounds, one five and one is given one. The ten and the five pound recipients double their gift and return it to their master. The one, in fear, hides the one and is glad to return it to get it out of his hands. Going backto the observations from the Ephesians passage the fearful slave saw with the eyes of fear rather than the eyes of his heart. He embraced scarcity rather than the abundance of God's gift. It is not about socking it away (our gifts, talents and abilities) in order to presever them - it is about seeing what God wants us to do with these gifts.
Thanksgiving 2010
An odd Thanksgiving for us, but a good one. Our natural rhythym is to go to Julie's parents home for Thanksgiving and to share a big meal on Thankgiving Day with her family including her brother. Christmas is usually at our house and we without fail assemble again at that time. You come to take this for granted. Utnil this year when Julie's mom has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Went through an eight hour surgery two weeks and one day ago and, after being home from the hospital over the weekend, went back in on Tuesday. We scrambled a bit. Ordered a Thanksgiving dinner takeout from Cracker Barrel which we'll use as the basis for the big meal on Friday (into Saturday). And just the four of us had Thanksgiving Dinner at Cracker Barrel in Berea. Her mom was released from the hospital in the early evening and is home now. Following our Cracker Barrel meal our family went and saw the new Harry Potter movie. So I'm thankful for J.K. Rowling and for Cracker Barrel and for a Dr. with communication gifts and good commons sense. I'm thankful for Julie and Cameron and Eliza. I'm thankful that I get to put up with children who argue with each other as I know I'll miss it when they don't anymore. I'm thankful for days when things are not as they should be, for odd Thanksgivings if you will, because they point out how magnificent so many family gatherings have been and how richly God has blessed us.
Getting On Board With God's Plan - November 24, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 24, 2010
Psalm 78:40-72
Zechariah 12:1-10
Ephesians 1:3-14
Luke 19:1-10
Ephesians 1:3-14
Lots of talk here of purpose and plan. God's purposes and plans. Talk of wisdom and insight. God's wisdom and insight. As to us, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of our grace."(v.7) We begin to have some awareness of God's purpose and plan when we can begin to have some experience of our need for forgiveness along with the stunning realization that God has provided precisely this thing that we need.
Luke 19:1-10
The story of Zacchaeus, which is kind of a very specific version of the passage from Ephesians 1 above. Zacchaeus begins to have some awareness of God's purpose and plan - and his role in that purpose and plan - when he meets Jesus and is confronted with his need of forgiveness and gratefully accepts that gift and has his life transformed.
Psalm 78:40-72
Zechariah 12:1-10
Ephesians 1:3-14
Luke 19:1-10
Ephesians 1:3-14
Lots of talk here of purpose and plan. God's purposes and plans. Talk of wisdom and insight. God's wisdom and insight. As to us, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of our grace."(v.7) We begin to have some awareness of God's purpose and plan when we can begin to have some experience of our need for forgiveness along with the stunning realization that God has provided precisely this thing that we need.
Luke 19:1-10
The story of Zacchaeus, which is kind of a very specific version of the passage from Ephesians 1 above. Zacchaeus begins to have some awareness of God's purpose and plan - and his role in that purpose and plan - when he meets Jesus and is confronted with his need of forgiveness and gratefully accepts that gift and has his life transformed.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Favor and Unity - November 23, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 23, 2010
Psalm 78:1-39
Zechariah 11:4-17
1 Corinthians 3:10-23
Luke 18:31-43
Zechariah 11:4-17
Zechariah serves as a shepherd with two staffs. One he names Favor, the other Unity. He breaks the one called Favor, symbolizing the breaking of the covenant. He then accepts payment of thirty pieces of silver, tosses it into the temple treasury and breaks the staff called Unity - anulling the ties between Judah and Israel. No precise correlation to be made, but find the amount (thirty pieces of silver) interesting and am curious about how Judas might have reflected on this passage as he took his thirty pieces of silver and thought about the breaking of the unity of his relationship with Jesus.
Psalm 78:1-39
Zechariah 11:4-17
1 Corinthians 3:10-23
Luke 18:31-43
Zechariah 11:4-17
Zechariah serves as a shepherd with two staffs. One he names Favor, the other Unity. He breaks the one called Favor, symbolizing the breaking of the covenant. He then accepts payment of thirty pieces of silver, tosses it into the temple treasury and breaks the staff called Unity - anulling the ties between Judah and Israel. No precise correlation to be made, but find the amount (thirty pieces of silver) interesting and am curious about how Judas might have reflected on this passage as he took his thirty pieces of silver and thought about the breaking of the unity of his relationship with Jesus.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Lifestyle Passages - November 22, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 22, 2010
Psalm 37
Zechariah 10:1-12
Galatians 6:1-10
Luke 18:15-30
Psalm 37
"Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.
Do not fret - it leads only to evil."(v.8)
Lots in this Psalm about the consequences of wickedness and a long-term perspective on what faithfulness brings as opposed to what wickedness brings. The above verse is one that encourages the avoidance of anger, wrath and fretting. Anger and wrath I think are pretty clear in our minds in terms of their potential for connection with evil. Fretting is one where it may not be so obvious, yet it surely is there. When we fret, when we are anxious we respond increasingly out of fear and fear clouds are judgment and can lead us to bad choices which have a way of piling one on top of the other.
Galatians 6:1-10
"So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. so then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for th good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith."(vs.9-10)
Like the Psalm above this is a long-haul, lifestyle passage. Doing what is right is not a glib instruction, it's hard work. We pray that we can stay with it and not grow weary of it - if it were easy and required little we would not need to worry that we might grow weary. The need for doing what is right is constant - the call is to work for good in all things with special attention to the way that begins within the family of faith. I don't find tha to be an "if you get nothing else right, get the family of faith right" type instruction as much as I hear it as an "if we are unable to get the family of faith right, how will we ever reach beyond that family" kind of question.
Luke 18:15-30
The story of the rich young ruler which fits with the above as a lifestyle question that the young ruler asks of Jesus. Jesus speaks of how hard it is to do the right thing, especially when we have great resources (because rather than share our tendency is to hang on), but he offers hope when the people who are listening start to question whether faithfulness is even possible. ""'What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.'"(v.27) Aim to do what is right and good and lean not on ourselves, but on God for the strenght needed for the endeavor.
Psalm 37
Zechariah 10:1-12
Galatians 6:1-10
Luke 18:15-30
Psalm 37
"Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.
Do not fret - it leads only to evil."(v.8)
Lots in this Psalm about the consequences of wickedness and a long-term perspective on what faithfulness brings as opposed to what wickedness brings. The above verse is one that encourages the avoidance of anger, wrath and fretting. Anger and wrath I think are pretty clear in our minds in terms of their potential for connection with evil. Fretting is one where it may not be so obvious, yet it surely is there. When we fret, when we are anxious we respond increasingly out of fear and fear clouds are judgment and can lead us to bad choices which have a way of piling one on top of the other.
Galatians 6:1-10
"So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. so then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for th good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith."(vs.9-10)
Like the Psalm above this is a long-haul, lifestyle passage. Doing what is right is not a glib instruction, it's hard work. We pray that we can stay with it and not grow weary of it - if it were easy and required little we would not need to worry that we might grow weary. The need for doing what is right is constant - the call is to work for good in all things with special attention to the way that begins within the family of faith. I don't find tha to be an "if you get nothing else right, get the family of faith right" type instruction as much as I hear it as an "if we are unable to get the family of faith right, how will we ever reach beyond that family" kind of question.
Luke 18:15-30
The story of the rich young ruler which fits with the above as a lifestyle question that the young ruler asks of Jesus. Jesus speaks of how hard it is to do the right thing, especially when we have great resources (because rather than share our tendency is to hang on), but he offers hope when the people who are listening start to question whether faithfulness is even possible. ""'What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.'"(v.27) Aim to do what is right and good and lean not on ourselves, but on God for the strenght needed for the endeavor.
Monday, November 22, 2010
I'll Have The Statue of the Ox Eating Grass - November 21, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 21, 2010
Psalm 106:1-27
Zechariah 9:9-16
1 Peter 3:13-22
Matthew 21:1-13
Psalm 106:1-27
"The made a calf at Horeb
and worshiped a cast image.
They exchanged the glory of God
for the image of an ox that eats grass."(vs.19-20)
Hmmmm. When you say it like that it doesn't seem like such a good choice.
It's funny how when we say out loud the things that we give priority over God it comes out sounding pretty much like these verses. God grant us wisdom.
Zechariah 9:9-16
Prophecy that foreshadows the events of Palm Sunday.
1 Peter 3:13-22
"For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil."(v.17)
If we our suffering, why are we suffering. Is our suffering the result of disobedience and being out of step with God's will or is our suffering the result of fidelity to God and striving to follow Jesus. It sounds odd to rate the relative merits of various types of suffering, but I think it makes good sense. Suffering, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. Suffering that we are experiencing because we are making the choices that God would have us make and trying to live the way that God would have us live will surely have a whole different feel to it than suffering which comes from separation from God's will and plan. The one is a suffering that is superficial and while it may be deeply painful there is a deeper resevoir of hope beneath it. The other is a suffering that makes each day another journey through misery.
Matthew 21:1-13
Matthew's Palm Sunday account wherein we see Matthew utilizing the Zechariah passage and pointing to prophecy fulfilled in the actions and person of Jesus.
Preached today on...
Used the Luke 23:33-43 and Colossians 1:11-20 passages to preach this morning. Basic thrust that faith is very often about relearning definitions of what we imagine to be familiar terms. King for instance here, on Christ the King Sunday, is reshaped for the people of Jesus day and for us. The people are looking for David - powerful poltiical and military leader - and instead we have the story of the crucifixion with the mocking of Jesus as King, the sign placed on the cross and two criminals, one to either side of Jesus. One who understands his kingship and one who does not. And the Colossians passage which describes Christ's ministry in beautifully poetic language, demonstrating how death on a cross is truly the act of a King.
Psalm 106:1-27
Zechariah 9:9-16
1 Peter 3:13-22
Matthew 21:1-13
Psalm 106:1-27
"The made a calf at Horeb
and worshiped a cast image.
They exchanged the glory of God
for the image of an ox that eats grass."(vs.19-20)
Hmmmm. When you say it like that it doesn't seem like such a good choice.
It's funny how when we say out loud the things that we give priority over God it comes out sounding pretty much like these verses. God grant us wisdom.
Zechariah 9:9-16
Prophecy that foreshadows the events of Palm Sunday.
1 Peter 3:13-22
"For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil."(v.17)
If we our suffering, why are we suffering. Is our suffering the result of disobedience and being out of step with God's will or is our suffering the result of fidelity to God and striving to follow Jesus. It sounds odd to rate the relative merits of various types of suffering, but I think it makes good sense. Suffering, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. Suffering that we are experiencing because we are making the choices that God would have us make and trying to live the way that God would have us live will surely have a whole different feel to it than suffering which comes from separation from God's will and plan. The one is a suffering that is superficial and while it may be deeply painful there is a deeper resevoir of hope beneath it. The other is a suffering that makes each day another journey through misery.
Matthew 21:1-13
Matthew's Palm Sunday account wherein we see Matthew utilizing the Zechariah passage and pointing to prophecy fulfilled in the actions and person of Jesus.
Preached today on...
Used the Luke 23:33-43 and Colossians 1:11-20 passages to preach this morning. Basic thrust that faith is very often about relearning definitions of what we imagine to be familiar terms. King for instance here, on Christ the King Sunday, is reshaped for the people of Jesus day and for us. The people are looking for David - powerful poltiical and military leader - and instead we have the story of the crucifixion with the mocking of Jesus as King, the sign placed on the cross and two criminals, one to either side of Jesus. One who understands his kingship and one who does not. And the Colossians passage which describes Christ's ministry in beautifully poetic language, demonstrating how death on a cross is truly the act of a King.
Prayer - November 20, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 20,2010
Psalm 60
Malachi 3:13-4:6
James 5:13-20
Luke 18:9-14
James 5:13-20
Encouragement to pray whether suffering or cheerful. No matter our circumstance, tending to our relationship with God is critical.
Nothing more than noting a coincidence, but interesting that in the Malachi passage, the last passage of the Old Testament there is mention of Elijah and here in the last passage of the book of James there is the mention of Elijah as well. Again, no correlation is suggested, beyond reminding again of the shadow cast by the giants of the Old Testament, Abraham, Moses, David and the one mentioned here - Elijah.
Luke 18:9-14
The Luke passage is the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the temple. Where the James passage exhorts us to pray, this passage indicates both a poor attitude for prayer (the Pharisee) and a preferred attitude for prayer (the tax collector).
Psalm 60
Malachi 3:13-4:6
James 5:13-20
Luke 18:9-14
James 5:13-20
Encouragement to pray whether suffering or cheerful. No matter our circumstance, tending to our relationship with God is critical.
Nothing more than noting a coincidence, but interesting that in the Malachi passage, the last passage of the Old Testament there is mention of Elijah and here in the last passage of the book of James there is the mention of Elijah as well. Again, no correlation is suggested, beyond reminding again of the shadow cast by the giants of the Old Testament, Abraham, Moses, David and the one mentioned here - Elijah.
Luke 18:9-14
The Luke passage is the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the temple. Where the James passage exhorts us to pray, this passage indicates both a poor attitude for prayer (the Pharisee) and a preferred attitude for prayer (the tax collector).
Saturday, November 20, 2010
James Talks Advent Sort Of - November 19, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 19, 2010
Psalm 147
Malachi 3:1-12
James 5:7-12
Luke 18:1-8
James 5:7-12
"Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord."(v.7)
James urges the followers of Christ to be patient in their waiting for his return. This is an interesting passage to come across with the beginning of the liturgical season of Advent a week and a day away. Advent has become the preamble to the celebration of Christmas and when we think of the Advent of Christ it seems most often to be the coming (or Advent) of the Christ child that is in our minds. Of course Advent points not only to remembering the Advent of the Christ child, but ahead, to the future, to the coming of Christ. I wonder how many of us actually have the sense of urgency and anticipation about Christ's coming that would ever lead us to feel impatient. The people James is speaking to our impatient for the Lord's return. Two thousand years later we've become accustomed to waiting. Used to it. Yet God's time is God's time and we are reminded by this passage perhaps that Christ's return can be anytime - our call is not to live with a sense of panic or impatience, but to live for certain with expectation that Christ who came will come again.
Psalm 147
Malachi 3:1-12
James 5:7-12
Luke 18:1-8
James 5:7-12
"Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord."(v.7)
James urges the followers of Christ to be patient in their waiting for his return. This is an interesting passage to come across with the beginning of the liturgical season of Advent a week and a day away. Advent has become the preamble to the celebration of Christmas and when we think of the Advent of Christ it seems most often to be the coming (or Advent) of the Christ child that is in our minds. Of course Advent points not only to remembering the Advent of the Christ child, but ahead, to the future, to the coming of Christ. I wonder how many of us actually have the sense of urgency and anticipation about Christ's coming that would ever lead us to feel impatient. The people James is speaking to our impatient for the Lord's return. Two thousand years later we've become accustomed to waiting. Used to it. Yet God's time is God's time and we are reminded by this passage perhaps that Christ's return can be anytime - our call is not to live with a sense of panic or impatience, but to live for certain with expectation that Christ who came will come again.
Friday, November 19, 2010
November 18, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 18, 2010
Psalm 108
Malachi 2:1-16
James 4:13-5:6
Luke 17:20-37
Psalm 108
Just a great Psalm of praise, particularly vs.1-6.
Malachi 2:1-16
God commends the leaders for "true instruction" and for walking in "integrity and uprightness". Leaders who cause "many to stumble" are taken to task. It is a sobering passage for pastors and for teachers - for anyone serving in a leadership position in the church. God has expectations that our effort will be our best effort and that our intent will be service to God not building up of ourselves.
James 4:13-5:6
John McCain drove around in a campaign bus that was known at the "Straight Talk Express" - here is real straight talk....
"Anyone then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin."(4:17)
Psalm 108
Malachi 2:1-16
James 4:13-5:6
Luke 17:20-37
Psalm 108
Just a great Psalm of praise, particularly vs.1-6.
Malachi 2:1-16
God commends the leaders for "true instruction" and for walking in "integrity and uprightness". Leaders who cause "many to stumble" are taken to task. It is a sobering passage for pastors and for teachers - for anyone serving in a leadership position in the church. God has expectations that our effort will be our best effort and that our intent will be service to God not building up of ourselves.
James 4:13-5:6
John McCain drove around in a campaign bus that was known at the "Straight Talk Express" - here is real straight talk....
"Anyone then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin."(4:17)
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Giving Our Best, Giving Thanks - November 17, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 17, 2010
Psalm 68:1-10
Malachi 1:1-14
James 3:13-4:12
Luke 17:11-19
Malachi 1:1-14
"Would you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not wrong? Try presenting that to yoru governor; will he be pleased with you or show you favor?"(v.8)
Nice verse for stewarship season. The gifts we would be embarrased to give to anothr person whose opinion we value we are not at all embarrased to offer to God. Whatever our best is is what God expects.
Luke 17:11-19
Jesus heals ten lepers and one of the ten is moved to thank Jesus. In the Malachi passage the issue is witholding our best from God. In this passage it is a similar issue - God has done great things for us and how thankful are we. Do we go on blithely with our day or do we stop and offer thanks and praise. I know too often my answer would be I give less than my best and I receive blessings from God for which I fail to offer thanks.
Psalm 68:1-10
Malachi 1:1-14
James 3:13-4:12
Luke 17:11-19
Malachi 1:1-14
"Would you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not wrong? Try presenting that to yoru governor; will he be pleased with you or show you favor?"(v.8)
Nice verse for stewarship season. The gifts we would be embarrased to give to anothr person whose opinion we value we are not at all embarrased to offer to God. Whatever our best is is what God expects.
Luke 17:11-19
Jesus heals ten lepers and one of the ten is moved to thank Jesus. In the Malachi passage the issue is witholding our best from God. In this passage it is a similar issue - God has done great things for us and how thankful are we. Do we go on blithely with our day or do we stop and offer thanks and praise. I know too often my answer would be I give less than my best and I receive blessings from God for which I fail to offer thanks.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Life Abundant (And a Mention of Bruce Springsteen) - November 16, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 16, 2010
Psalm 42
Habakkuk 3:1-18
James 3:1-12
Luke 17:1-10
Psalm 42
"My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?"(v.2)
"Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?"(v.11)
These verses have fundamental truths which I think apply to every person. Every single person. My soul thirsts for God. It does. Even when I'm behaving badly or being selfish or rude or some other unattractive thing my soul thirsts for God. I think yours does too. Everyone's soul thirsts for God. It's how we are made. It is how God made us. We thirst for our maker. We don't always seek the right answer to that thirst. The thirst is there, but we sometimes throw other things at it, hoping to find something that will stick. Sometimes hoping to find something that seems potentially less demanding than God appears to be. When we seek that which is not God to fill the space that only God can fill we find ourselves cast down. It is disquieting. When we drink deeply of God, of God's word and of the things that God is leading us to our souls are more likely to fill at peace, a peace that passes all understanding. That is the life abundant. And when we neglect our relationship with God that is when the disquiet and discontent begin to take root and grow.
The Promise
Looking forward very much to hearing "The Promise", a collection of 21 songs that did not make it onto Bruce Springsteen's 1978 classic "Darkness On The Edge of Town". "The Promise" contains a couple of studio versions of Boss songs that were hits for other people - "Because The Night" (Patty Smith) and "Fire" (The Pointer Sisters). Springsteen fans have long known that there are myriad tracks that exist out there in a vault somewhere. My fear has been that we'd never get them until Bruce died. I like this way much better. Very anxious to sort of time travel to a place in time that I suspect will feel a bit like a bridge between "Darkness" and "The River". And very confident that Bruce's "Darkness" benchwarmers will be better than virtually anyone's very best.
Psalm 42
Habakkuk 3:1-18
James 3:1-12
Luke 17:1-10
Psalm 42
"My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?"(v.2)
"Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?"(v.11)
These verses have fundamental truths which I think apply to every person. Every single person. My soul thirsts for God. It does. Even when I'm behaving badly or being selfish or rude or some other unattractive thing my soul thirsts for God. I think yours does too. Everyone's soul thirsts for God. It's how we are made. It is how God made us. We thirst for our maker. We don't always seek the right answer to that thirst. The thirst is there, but we sometimes throw other things at it, hoping to find something that will stick. Sometimes hoping to find something that seems potentially less demanding than God appears to be. When we seek that which is not God to fill the space that only God can fill we find ourselves cast down. It is disquieting. When we drink deeply of God, of God's word and of the things that God is leading us to our souls are more likely to fill at peace, a peace that passes all understanding. That is the life abundant. And when we neglect our relationship with God that is when the disquiet and discontent begin to take root and grow.
The Promise
Looking forward very much to hearing "The Promise", a collection of 21 songs that did not make it onto Bruce Springsteen's 1978 classic "Darkness On The Edge of Town". "The Promise" contains a couple of studio versions of Boss songs that were hits for other people - "Because The Night" (Patty Smith) and "Fire" (The Pointer Sisters). Springsteen fans have long known that there are myriad tracks that exist out there in a vault somewhere. My fear has been that we'd never get them until Bruce died. I like this way much better. Very anxious to sort of time travel to a place in time that I suspect will feel a bit like a bridge between "Darkness" and "The River". And very confident that Bruce's "Darkness" benchwarmers will be better than virtually anyone's very best.
The Faith Works Thing - November 15, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 15, 2010
Psalm 43
Habakkuk 2:1-20
James 2:14-26
Luke 16:19-31
James 2:14-26 and Luke 16:19-31
James makes his assertion that faith without works is dead and Luke shares the parable about the rich man and Lazarus wherein the rich man finds himself in an uncomfortable spot in the afterlife. The point of the parable would seem to be that what happens in this life matters. Our actions in this life matter and have consequences. Which points to the heart of what James is saying. I find the doctrinal issues that arise from the book of James to be beside the point. James is not tearing down the role of God in salvation; James is stating that recepients of God's grace live changed lives. Not to earn their salvation, but because it is categorically impossible not to. And those changed lives now prepare us for life in God's kingdom to come - prepare us to hear the message of faith that the rich man, from beyond the grave, wants for someone to go and tell his family.
Psalm 43
Habakkuk 2:1-20
James 2:14-26
Luke 16:19-31
James 2:14-26 and Luke 16:19-31
James makes his assertion that faith without works is dead and Luke shares the parable about the rich man and Lazarus wherein the rich man finds himself in an uncomfortable spot in the afterlife. The point of the parable would seem to be that what happens in this life matters. Our actions in this life matter and have consequences. Which points to the heart of what James is saying. I find the doctrinal issues that arise from the book of James to be beside the point. James is not tearing down the role of God in salvation; James is stating that recepients of God's grace live changed lives. Not to earn their salvation, but because it is categorically impossible not to. And those changed lives now prepare us for life in God's kingdom to come - prepare us to hear the message of faith that the rich man, from beyond the grave, wants for someone to go and tell his family.
Monday, November 15, 2010
What's My Motivation? - November 14, 2010
Lectionary Readings for November 14, 2010
Psalm 14
Habakkuk 1:1-2:1
Philippians 3:13-24
Matthew 23:13-24
Philippians 3:13-24
“Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”(v.12)
Why do we try to be obedient? Why do we try to sin less and love God more? At times I think the message the world has received from the body of Christ is that we do these things because they are good for us. We do them because if we can get them to the “enough” point we are more likely to spend eternity in heaven rather than in hell. I very much want to spend eternity in heaven, but a motive as selfish as living an obedient life in order to get myself there rather defeats the purpose of obedience. Paul is great in this verse – “I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” Life is most fully life as God intends when we live in accord with God’s intent AND when we recognize what Christ has done for us that we 1) couldn’t have done for ourselves and 2) wouldn’t have known to ask or seek remedy for left to our own devices. As graceful recipients, rather than as folks seeking to avoid hell, we live, striving to obedient and to follow Jesus.
Matthew 23:13-26
Another passage that focuses on the inner life – pointing us to the core of what we do and why we do it. Superficial behavior may be good or bad, may be obedient or disobedient, but beyond the act there is the intent. Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees here, but I think it blends well with the theme above from the Philippians passage. Our obedience is obedience at a surface level if it is the result solely of self-interest. Our obedience is more deeply rooted when we get our motivation right.
“First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.”(v.26)
Psalm 14
Habakkuk 1:1-2:1
Philippians 3:13-24
Matthew 23:13-24
Philippians 3:13-24
“Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”(v.12)
Why do we try to be obedient? Why do we try to sin less and love God more? At times I think the message the world has received from the body of Christ is that we do these things because they are good for us. We do them because if we can get them to the “enough” point we are more likely to spend eternity in heaven rather than in hell. I very much want to spend eternity in heaven, but a motive as selfish as living an obedient life in order to get myself there rather defeats the purpose of obedience. Paul is great in this verse – “I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” Life is most fully life as God intends when we live in accord with God’s intent AND when we recognize what Christ has done for us that we 1) couldn’t have done for ourselves and 2) wouldn’t have known to ask or seek remedy for left to our own devices. As graceful recipients, rather than as folks seeking to avoid hell, we live, striving to obedient and to follow Jesus.
Matthew 23:13-26
Another passage that focuses on the inner life – pointing us to the core of what we do and why we do it. Superficial behavior may be good or bad, may be obedient or disobedient, but beyond the act there is the intent. Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees here, but I think it blends well with the theme above from the Philippians passage. Our obedience is obedience at a surface level if it is the result solely of self-interest. Our obedience is more deeply rooted when we get our motivation right.
“First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.”(v.26)
Not Most - All - November 13, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 13, 2010
Psalm 39
Joel 3:9-17
James 2:1-13
Luke 16:10-17
James 2:1-13 and Luke 16:10-17
“For whoever keeps the law, but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.” (James 2:10)
“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much, and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.” (Luke 16:10)
These two statements make for some interesting interplay between these two passages from today’s lectionary. James says you fail at one point in the law and you are guilty. Luke has Jesus saying that an inclination towards being faithful in the small things indicates an inclination to be faithful in large things as well. I think these two passages work nicely together and have a couple of points that jump out at me. One is that our actions matter and that it is our actions with which we must first be concerned. It is not our job to judge the actions of others, but it is our call to be aware of our obedience or lack of obedience in our own lives. A daily review of the ways in which I have been at odds with God’s law, the ways I have been honest with myself about my sin are important. What I do with what is entrusted to me matters. Whether it is great or small it is my opportunity to be faithful. Second, everything matters, everything counts, stewardship or obedience – either one – are whole life issues. Being obedient in ninety-percent of my actions (and I’m not claiming that by any stretch) would not lessen my culpability for the one percent. Our whole life matters. Faithfulness with many things is not the same as faithfulness in all things. God desires faithfulness in all things, great and small.
Psalm 39
Joel 3:9-17
James 2:1-13
Luke 16:10-17
James 2:1-13 and Luke 16:10-17
“For whoever keeps the law, but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.” (James 2:10)
“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much, and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.” (Luke 16:10)
These two statements make for some interesting interplay between these two passages from today’s lectionary. James says you fail at one point in the law and you are guilty. Luke has Jesus saying that an inclination towards being faithful in the small things indicates an inclination to be faithful in large things as well. I think these two passages work nicely together and have a couple of points that jump out at me. One is that our actions matter and that it is our actions with which we must first be concerned. It is not our job to judge the actions of others, but it is our call to be aware of our obedience or lack of obedience in our own lives. A daily review of the ways in which I have been at odds with God’s law, the ways I have been honest with myself about my sin are important. What I do with what is entrusted to me matters. Whether it is great or small it is my opportunity to be faithful. Second, everything matters, everything counts, stewardship or obedience – either one – are whole life issues. Being obedient in ninety-percent of my actions (and I’m not claiming that by any stretch) would not lessen my culpability for the one percent. Our whole life matters. Faithfulness with many things is not the same as faithfulness in all things. God desires faithfulness in all things, great and small.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Forgetting Who We Are - November 12, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 12, 2010
Psalm 105:1-22
Joel 2:28-3:8
James 1:16-27
Luke 16:1-9
James 1:16-27
"But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like."(vs.22-24)
The person who looks in the mirror and goes away and immediately forgets what they look like is an evocative image. If we remember we are children of God we will act like children of God. If however we only experience connection with God in worship or during a time of devotions - a specifically religious moment set aside for that purpose - and fail to carry that interaction with God out into our lives we will forget what we look like - we will forget that we are chldren of God. The call to be doers of the word is a call to be useful in the world, but it is more than a call to serve others - it is also a call to be true to who we and to live our lives as what we were made to be - children of God.
What's going on...
For the first time since I began this in August I got a few days behind beginning on Wednesday. That corresponds with a significant event in our family, my mother-in-law, Joy Hager, underwent an eight hour surgery to remove cancer on Wednesday. As I type I am in her hospital room during the overnight hours. She is recovering pretty well, but this is not going to be a short recovery. Following the initial recovery from the surgery itself there will be chemotherapy. Your prayers are appreciated for her recovery.
Psalm 105:1-22
Joel 2:28-3:8
James 1:16-27
Luke 16:1-9
James 1:16-27
"But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like."(vs.22-24)
The person who looks in the mirror and goes away and immediately forgets what they look like is an evocative image. If we remember we are children of God we will act like children of God. If however we only experience connection with God in worship or during a time of devotions - a specifically religious moment set aside for that purpose - and fail to carry that interaction with God out into our lives we will forget what we look like - we will forget that we are chldren of God. The call to be doers of the word is a call to be useful in the world, but it is more than a call to serve others - it is also a call to be true to who we and to live our lives as what we were made to be - children of God.
What's going on...
For the first time since I began this in August I got a few days behind beginning on Wednesday. That corresponds with a significant event in our family, my mother-in-law, Joy Hager, underwent an eight hour surgery to remove cancer on Wednesday. As I type I am in her hospital room during the overnight hours. She is recovering pretty well, but this is not going to be a short recovery. Following the initial recovery from the surgery itself there will be chemotherapy. Your prayers are appreciated for her recovery.
Desire, Sin, Death - November 11, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 11, 2010
Psalm 128
Joel 2:21-27
James 1:1-15
Luke 15:1-2, 11-32
James 1:1-15
"When that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death."(v.15)
After beginning with the instruction to consider trials of any kind "nothing but joy", James draws this passage to a close with the above verse about desire leading to sin leading to death. James is such a sturdy, practical, relevant book. Looking forward to making my way through James again - always good territory to review. As with the desire, sin death trajectory, what James describes carries the weight of credibility in that the hard things he says ring very true when compared with my experience of life. And that voice in my head - ir is it my heart - that agrees with James that I am much better off when I can corral things at the desire stage, because what comes next will be sin and then things are really headed in a bad direction.
Psalm 128
Joel 2:21-27
James 1:1-15
Luke 15:1-2, 11-32
James 1:1-15
"When that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death."(v.15)
After beginning with the instruction to consider trials of any kind "nothing but joy", James draws this passage to a close with the above verse about desire leading to sin leading to death. James is such a sturdy, practical, relevant book. Looking forward to making my way through James again - always good territory to review. As with the desire, sin death trajectory, what James describes carries the weight of credibility in that the hard things he says ring very true when compared with my experience of life. And that voice in my head - ir is it my heart - that agrees with James that I am much better off when I can corral things at the desire stage, because what comes next will be sin and then things are really headed in a bad direction.
Keeping the Sense of Urgency - November 10, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 10, 2010
Psalm 55
Joel 2:12-19
Revelation 19:11-21
Luke 15:1-10
Luke 15:1-10
Jesus asks which one of us having a hundred sheep and missing one of them wouldn't go all out looking for the lost one. My guess is a number of us would not go searching right away. He asks what woman having ten coins and losing one wouldn't turn the house inside out looking for the missing coin. Again, I'd guess several of us would be just find with nine out of ten unless we really needed that tenth coin. Point being, we may be content with things at a level which is fine for us, but which disappoints Jesus. Our sense of urgency in sharing our faith may be at a place where we are comfortable, but may fall short of what Jesus anticipates. These parables call us to that sense of urgency for the one opportunity before us rather than to be complacent and happy with ninety-nine out of one hundred or nine out of ten.
Psalm 55
Joel 2:12-19
Revelation 19:11-21
Luke 15:1-10
Luke 15:1-10
Jesus asks which one of us having a hundred sheep and missing one of them wouldn't go all out looking for the lost one. My guess is a number of us would not go searching right away. He asks what woman having ten coins and losing one wouldn't turn the house inside out looking for the missing coin. Again, I'd guess several of us would be just find with nine out of ten unless we really needed that tenth coin. Point being, we may be content with things at a level which is fine for us, but which disappoints Jesus. Our sense of urgency in sharing our faith may be at a place where we are comfortable, but may fall short of what Jesus anticipates. These parables call us to that sense of urgency for the one opportunity before us rather than to be complacent and happy with ninety-nine out of one hundred or nine out of ten.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Yeah, I Know My Transgressions Alright - November 9, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 9, 2010
Psalm 51
Joel 2:3-11
Revelation 19:1-10
Luke 14:25-35
Psalm 51
""For I know by transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me."(v.3)
Sin is really not a huge mystery to us. When we slow down for a moment and examine our choices and our actions and our motivations it does not take a lot of in depth analysis to know that much of the weight we are dragging around is the residue of sin. I do know many, if not all, of my transgressions and sin does have a way of getting out in front and leading. Which is why this is such a great Psalm. Many times confession of sin is viewed as a trip to the woodshed. It's time to fess up and take our whipping. Except it's not that at all. Rather it's time to be honest about the extraneous stuff we are hauling around that is holding us back from being the people we want to be and more important the people God made us to be. Psalm 51 is a wonderful, holistic exploration of sin and confession and how it can free us for God's plan and purposes.
Joel 2:3-11
Joel continues with the theme of confession and forgiveness. Repentance and grace. Joel has just pronounced judgment on behalf of God, but follows with these words:
"Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing."(vs.12-13)
Joel tells us that God is not poised and anxiously waiting to punish; rather God is prepared to restore right relationship and allow us the awesome opportunity to experience grace and new beginnings.
Psalm 51
Joel 2:3-11
Revelation 19:1-10
Luke 14:25-35
Psalm 51
""For I know by transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me."(v.3)
Sin is really not a huge mystery to us. When we slow down for a moment and examine our choices and our actions and our motivations it does not take a lot of in depth analysis to know that much of the weight we are dragging around is the residue of sin. I do know many, if not all, of my transgressions and sin does have a way of getting out in front and leading. Which is why this is such a great Psalm. Many times confession of sin is viewed as a trip to the woodshed. It's time to fess up and take our whipping. Except it's not that at all. Rather it's time to be honest about the extraneous stuff we are hauling around that is holding us back from being the people we want to be and more important the people God made us to be. Psalm 51 is a wonderful, holistic exploration of sin and confession and how it can free us for God's plan and purposes.
Joel 2:3-11
Joel continues with the theme of confession and forgiveness. Repentance and grace. Joel has just pronounced judgment on behalf of God, but follows with these words:
"Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing."(vs.12-13)
Joel tells us that God is not poised and anxiously waiting to punish; rather God is prepared to restore right relationship and allow us the awesome opportunity to experience grace and new beginnings.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Now - November 8, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 8, 2010
Psalm 5
Joel 1:15-2:2
Revelation 18:15-24
Luke 14:12-24
Luke 14:12-24
"'Come for everything is ready now.'"
The final word is maybe the most critical. Now. Everything is ready - now. I am presently reading a book by Bill Hybels entitled "The Power Of A Whisper: Hearing God, Having The Guts To Respond". Hybels basic idea is that God is whispering to us on a regular basis - are we listening. The book is full of great illustrations of folks who took major steps in their lives - sometimes risky steps - because they listened to the whispers of God. What this passage impresses on us is the importance of both listening and acting in a timely manner. The window of opportunity in any particular situation may be large or it may be small. There may be time to come at it leisurely or it may be that God means now.
Psalm 5
Joel 1:15-2:2
Revelation 18:15-24
Luke 14:12-24
Luke 14:12-24
"'Come for everything is ready now.'"
The final word is maybe the most critical. Now. Everything is ready - now. I am presently reading a book by Bill Hybels entitled "The Power Of A Whisper: Hearing God, Having The Guts To Respond". Hybels basic idea is that God is whispering to us on a regular basis - are we listening. The book is full of great illustrations of folks who took major steps in their lives - sometimes risky steps - because they listened to the whispers of God. What this passage impresses on us is the importance of both listening and acting in a timely manner. The window of opportunity in any particular situation may be large or it may be small. There may be time to come at it leisurely or it may be that God means now.
Loving and Sharing the Imperfect Church - November 7, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 7, 2010
Psalm 50
Joel 1:1-13
1 Corinthians 14:1-12
Matthew 20:1-16
1 Corinthians 14:1-12
Rob Warren, a good clergy friend here in the Louisville area who possesses an excellent sense of humor, once posted on their churches sign a message something like the following: "We Aren't Full of Hypocrites: We Have Room For More". I love this and never grow tired of repeating it. It's great in a number of ways one of my favorites of which is I think it works as a bit of a defense of the church. As a person who loves the church it feels at times as though there is no end of people who want to take shots at the church. For instance, the church is filled with hypocrites. Well, yes, yes it is. And maybe there are folks who would make the argument that the church is devoid of hypocrites, but as long as there are people in it we will struggle with hypocrisy in one way or another. The quick summary of much of the critique of the church is that it is imperfect and filled with imperfect people. And again, I'd say yes, it is surely imperfect and filled (well, maybe filled isn't the right word, filled may be too optimistic, peopled is probably better) with imperfect folks. The goal of the church is not, in my estimation to airbrush away any signs of our sinfulness so that we may seem to be very near to perfection, but rather a place where people who are sinful, yet hopeful, selfish, yet compassionate, idolatrous, yet faithful can come together and aim at being something more than what we would be on our own. I would not argue that we should be content with our sinful ways and fallen natures, but that it is in coming together and being honest about these less attractive attributes that we together can move a little closer to being the kingdom people God desires us to be. It is important for those of us who are active in congregations to understand some of the misconceptions about what is going on in our gatherings or what some may believe we are aiming to accomplish with our worship and meetings and bazaars and potlucks. One of our centrals tasks as followers of Jesus is building up the body.
Paul uses that phrase several times in the 1 Corinthians 14 passage which ostensibly is about speakingin tongues and prophecy and the relative merits of the two. One could get caught up in the argument between tongues and prophecy, but I'm drawn to a phrase that is used as the yardstick for both of them, the critical piece for evaluation of their purpose and efficacy - building up the church. Verses 4, 5 and 12 all contain some variation on this phrase. Paul in this specific argument I believe gives us a broader measure for everything that we do as communiites of faith. Be it a prophetic word or tongues or Tuesday morning prayer group or a yard sale a basic question should be does it build up the church. Does it communicate the mission and ministry of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the world and does it help those who may be on the outside looking in at our congregations understand better what we are about and invite them to join us in the journey.
Psalm 50
Joel 1:1-13
1 Corinthians 14:1-12
Matthew 20:1-16
1 Corinthians 14:1-12
Rob Warren, a good clergy friend here in the Louisville area who possesses an excellent sense of humor, once posted on their churches sign a message something like the following: "We Aren't Full of Hypocrites: We Have Room For More". I love this and never grow tired of repeating it. It's great in a number of ways one of my favorites of which is I think it works as a bit of a defense of the church. As a person who loves the church it feels at times as though there is no end of people who want to take shots at the church. For instance, the church is filled with hypocrites. Well, yes, yes it is. And maybe there are folks who would make the argument that the church is devoid of hypocrites, but as long as there are people in it we will struggle with hypocrisy in one way or another. The quick summary of much of the critique of the church is that it is imperfect and filled with imperfect people. And again, I'd say yes, it is surely imperfect and filled (well, maybe filled isn't the right word, filled may be too optimistic, peopled is probably better) with imperfect folks. The goal of the church is not, in my estimation to airbrush away any signs of our sinfulness so that we may seem to be very near to perfection, but rather a place where people who are sinful, yet hopeful, selfish, yet compassionate, idolatrous, yet faithful can come together and aim at being something more than what we would be on our own. I would not argue that we should be content with our sinful ways and fallen natures, but that it is in coming together and being honest about these less attractive attributes that we together can move a little closer to being the kingdom people God desires us to be. It is important for those of us who are active in congregations to understand some of the misconceptions about what is going on in our gatherings or what some may believe we are aiming to accomplish with our worship and meetings and bazaars and potlucks. One of our centrals tasks as followers of Jesus is building up the body.
Paul uses that phrase several times in the 1 Corinthians 14 passage which ostensibly is about speakingin tongues and prophecy and the relative merits of the two. One could get caught up in the argument between tongues and prophecy, but I'm drawn to a phrase that is used as the yardstick for both of them, the critical piece for evaluation of their purpose and efficacy - building up the church. Verses 4, 5 and 12 all contain some variation on this phrase. Paul in this specific argument I believe gives us a broader measure for everything that we do as communiites of faith. Be it a prophetic word or tongues or Tuesday morning prayer group or a yard sale a basic question should be does it build up the church. Does it communicate the mission and ministry of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the world and does it help those who may be on the outside looking in at our congregations understand better what we are about and invite them to join us in the journey.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
The Best Company - November 6, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 6, 2010
Psalm 59
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Revelation 18:1-14
Luke 14:1-11
Zephaniah 3:14-20
"The Lord has taken away the
judgments against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in
you midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.(v.15)
Great reminder here - "The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more." This is similar to a theme I'll be highlighting tomorrow in worship from Haggai. In the Haggai passage the people are despondent and despairing about their future as symbolized by the temple. They have a memory of what it once was and they are pretty sure it can't be that again. They don't have the energy. They don't have the resources. They don't have the faith. Haggai's prophecy sounds very similar to Zephaniah's in pointing out to the people that whatever is against them, God is for them and really that is game, set and match. There is nothing better than knowing that God is with us.
Psalm 59
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Revelation 18:1-14
Luke 14:1-11
Zephaniah 3:14-20
"The Lord has taken away the
judgments against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in
you midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.(v.15)
Great reminder here - "The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more." This is similar to a theme I'll be highlighting tomorrow in worship from Haggai. In the Haggai passage the people are despondent and despairing about their future as symbolized by the temple. They have a memory of what it once was and they are pretty sure it can't be that again. They don't have the energy. They don't have the resources. They don't have the faith. Haggai's prophecy sounds very similar to Zephaniah's in pointing out to the people that whatever is against them, God is for them and really that is game, set and match. There is nothing better than knowing that God is with us.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
A Beautiful Spot Where Pharisees Do The Right Thing - November 5, 2010
Daily Letionary Readings for November 5, 2010
Psalm 109
Zephaniah 3:8-13
Revelation 17:1-18
Luke 13:31-35
Luke 13:31-35
The Dominus Flevit Church is a small chapel on the side of the Mount of Olives with the above pictured very striking view of the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. It is supposed to be on the spot where Jesus stood looking at the Temple and more generally at Jerusalem and spoke the following words of lament: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!"(v34)
The spot is truly striking and one of my favorite locations in the Holy Land. I can remember being there with our tour group in 2001, when I traveled there with a good friend as part of a group of clergy. What I can remember most vividly is the person who led the devotional talked about how they were having a wonderful experience, but very much missing their family and how their words brought tears to my eyes as I realized how much the words hit home with me and how much I was missing my wife and our two children that particular moment. Something about that quite visceral moment overlooking the Old City has stayed with me and whenever I read the story of Jesus lament over Jerusalem I remember that feeling of being struck by the absolute beauty of what I was seeing and at the same time the absolute sadness of missing the people who were so far away and so important to me.
How hard must it had been for Jesus to look at a city teeming with people, people he loved so much and who he knew would summarily reject him and seek to take his life. How hard especially when he could look across that valley and literally see the ground he would have to cover in order to set in motion the events of Holy Week, the events that would lead to his arrest and crucifixion.
Don't miss the words of v.31. As I read them they are a bit of a bright spot and point to something that we should factor in to our thinking about the Pharisees. Often times the Pharisees are the bad guys in the gospel stories. They are out to get Jesus, to trick him, to trip him up. And yet he hangs around with them regularly and discusses faith with them regularly. They are his nemisis at times, yes, but they are also, I suspect, his friends at times as well. "At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, 'Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.'"(v.31) These words can be interpreted perhaps in a variety of ways, but they sound to me like words of warning from one friend to another. Take care - you are in danger. The Pharisees are not two dimensional villains in a set piece. They are living, breathing folks who have some very bad moments in the gospel accounts, but who also undoubtedly have some good moments as well and who I also would say undoubtedly are represented in the group that Jesus would have counted as his companions and friends.
Psalm 109
Zephaniah 3:8-13
Revelation 17:1-18
Luke 13:31-35
The Dominus Flevit Church is a small chapel on the side of the Mount of Olives with the above pictured very striking view of the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. It is supposed to be on the spot where Jesus stood looking at the Temple and more generally at Jerusalem and spoke the following words of lament: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!"(v34)
The spot is truly striking and one of my favorite locations in the Holy Land. I can remember being there with our tour group in 2001, when I traveled there with a good friend as part of a group of clergy. What I can remember most vividly is the person who led the devotional talked about how they were having a wonderful experience, but very much missing their family and how their words brought tears to my eyes as I realized how much the words hit home with me and how much I was missing my wife and our two children that particular moment. Something about that quite visceral moment overlooking the Old City has stayed with me and whenever I read the story of Jesus lament over Jerusalem I remember that feeling of being struck by the absolute beauty of what I was seeing and at the same time the absolute sadness of missing the people who were so far away and so important to me.
How hard must it had been for Jesus to look at a city teeming with people, people he loved so much and who he knew would summarily reject him and seek to take his life. How hard especially when he could look across that valley and literally see the ground he would have to cover in order to set in motion the events of Holy Week, the events that would lead to his arrest and crucifixion.
Don't miss the words of v.31. As I read them they are a bit of a bright spot and point to something that we should factor in to our thinking about the Pharisees. Often times the Pharisees are the bad guys in the gospel stories. They are out to get Jesus, to trick him, to trip him up. And yet he hangs around with them regularly and discusses faith with them regularly. They are his nemisis at times, yes, but they are also, I suspect, his friends at times as well. "At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, 'Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.'"(v.31) These words can be interpreted perhaps in a variety of ways, but they sound to me like words of warning from one friend to another. Take care - you are in danger. The Pharisees are not two dimensional villains in a set piece. They are living, breathing folks who have some very bad moments in the gospel accounts, but who also undoubtedly have some good moments as well and who I also would say undoubtedly are represented in the group that Jesus would have counted as his companions and friends.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
God Is God And We Are Not - November 4, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 4, 2010
Psalm18:1-20
Zephaniah 3:1-7
Revelation 16:12-21
Luke 13:18-30
Psalm 18:1-20
This Psalm is not unique, but is a great representation of one of the characteristics of a number of the Psalms. Here the Psalmist creatively combines the Lord's concern with the specific, individual life of the writer and the cosmic majesty of what it means to be God. The Psalm is an acknowledgement of God's help, but it moves past being a thank you note to God to being effusive praise for God who is so much more than a magic helper waiting to solve our problems. Here is the creator God in all of God's glory and majesty and here is the great good news that this awesome and spectacular God cares deeply for individuals like us. After a particularly grand and powerful description of God's might we land on v.19 - "He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me." With all that is virtually beyond the ability of words to describe about God's nature the Psalmist leads us to a point that Scripture's story draws us to again and again - this amazing God has a deep and abiding love...for us.
Zephaniah 3:1-8
"Ah, soiled, defiled, oppressing city!
It has listened to no voice;
it has accepted no correction."(v.1)
This verse marks a sharp contrast to the theme mentioned above in the Psalm. God, who is the creator and whose power can truly only be discussed in words that attempt to convey an idea of power on a grand and cosmic scale takes note of us and cares for us. On the other hand, the prophet here describes a city, Jerusalem in this instance, that imagines itself to be grand and powerful on a great scale and which is indifferent to it's creator. God who could easily have not a care for us instead loves us. We who depend on God for everything live at times as though we are beholding to no one.
Luke 13:18-30
The Luke passage kind of draws this together as Jesus speaks about the kingdom of God and about the narrow path that leads to God's kingdom. His closing words in this passage drive home the point that it is not power - real or perceived - among people that leads one to the God's kingdom. Rather it is about obedience and aiming to follow Christ on that narrow path. "Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."(v.30) In the shadow of election day and the echoes of acceptance and concession speeches these words of Christ have a particular relevance. Much of politics is about the trappings of and exercise of power. Too often it becomes simply about gaining and maintaining power. Jesus is clear - the power is a tool among other tools, the decisive and all important factor is not the measure of power, but the desire to be obedient. While mentioning politicians as examples I'd be remiss if I did not confess that the first person I need to hear Christ's call to obedience is me. Praying today that we all will be a little more obedient and Christlike today then we were yesterday.
Psalm18:1-20
Zephaniah 3:1-7
Revelation 16:12-21
Luke 13:18-30
Psalm 18:1-20
This Psalm is not unique, but is a great representation of one of the characteristics of a number of the Psalms. Here the Psalmist creatively combines the Lord's concern with the specific, individual life of the writer and the cosmic majesty of what it means to be God. The Psalm is an acknowledgement of God's help, but it moves past being a thank you note to God to being effusive praise for God who is so much more than a magic helper waiting to solve our problems. Here is the creator God in all of God's glory and majesty and here is the great good news that this awesome and spectacular God cares deeply for individuals like us. After a particularly grand and powerful description of God's might we land on v.19 - "He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me." With all that is virtually beyond the ability of words to describe about God's nature the Psalmist leads us to a point that Scripture's story draws us to again and again - this amazing God has a deep and abiding love...for us.
Zephaniah 3:1-8
"Ah, soiled, defiled, oppressing city!
It has listened to no voice;
it has accepted no correction."(v.1)
This verse marks a sharp contrast to the theme mentioned above in the Psalm. God, who is the creator and whose power can truly only be discussed in words that attempt to convey an idea of power on a grand and cosmic scale takes note of us and cares for us. On the other hand, the prophet here describes a city, Jerusalem in this instance, that imagines itself to be grand and powerful on a great scale and which is indifferent to it's creator. God who could easily have not a care for us instead loves us. We who depend on God for everything live at times as though we are beholding to no one.
Luke 13:18-30
The Luke passage kind of draws this together as Jesus speaks about the kingdom of God and about the narrow path that leads to God's kingdom. His closing words in this passage drive home the point that it is not power - real or perceived - among people that leads one to the God's kingdom. Rather it is about obedience and aiming to follow Christ on that narrow path. "Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."(v.30) In the shadow of election day and the echoes of acceptance and concession speeches these words of Christ have a particular relevance. Much of politics is about the trappings of and exercise of power. Too often it becomes simply about gaining and maintaining power. Jesus is clear - the power is a tool among other tools, the decisive and all important factor is not the measure of power, but the desire to be obedient. While mentioning politicians as examples I'd be remiss if I did not confess that the first person I need to hear Christ's call to obedience is me. Praying today that we all will be a little more obedient and Christlike today then we were yesterday.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Times When Healing Is A Bad Thing - November 3, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 3, 2010
Psalm 145
Zephaniah 2:1-15
Revelation 16:1-11
Luke 13:10-17
Psalm 145
Several verses quoted out of sequence. First from the second half of the Psalm...
"The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. (vs.14,15)
A great promise that God will be with us in hard times, particularly when we are most in need, when we are looking to God. An earlier verse from this Psalm gives us a clue how this happens.
"On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate."(v.5)
When we take the time to meditate on God's wondrous works and on all the ways God reveals God's majesty to us in our daily lives we find an awesome God for sure, but I believe we find more. We find an awesome God who cares for us. In the midst of all the striking things that God has done when we meditate on God's actions we become aware that God cares deeply about us and is undeniably active and at work in our lives. God is always those things - active and at work in our lives - but we can easily ignore or choose to overlook the presence of God. Being in tune with that work in our regular meditation helps us to experience God at those times of crises, hopelessness and despair in our lives - the times when we are "bowed down".
Luke 13:10-17
Yesterday's Luke passage contained the story of a fig tree that no longer bore fruit. The suggestion was made that we may have some "fig trees" in our lives that are not bearing fruit and perhaps what such a passage might be asking us to do is to evaluate and consider doing away with such trees so that we could put our energy in other, more productive directions. A friend commented that one of the places we may encounter fig trees is in the life of the church. I agree. And believe that it's a good discipline to do as Stan Ott, of the Acts 16:5 Initiative suggests and not simply repeat last years programs again this year because we did them last year. The church can surely be a place where traditions become entrenched and we continue doing things over the years sometimes for little reason than that we've been doing them for a long time. There is certainly nothing wrong with longstanding traditions, but all of them are worthy of examination at least to ask why we are doing them and what purpose we believe is being accomplished in their being done. Today's Luke passage features Jesus healing a woman who has been bent over, unable to stand up straight for many years. Jesus heals her - he frees her from her ailment - and trouble ensues. Jesus has, again, healed on the Sabbath. Some traditionalists are angry with him. Which raises the question how do you get angry with someone for healing someone in any circumstance? Here it is because it runs headlong into a tradition - the Sabbath is a time when no work is to be done. Those who are angry are unable to look past the bottom line of the tradition to examine the content of the action. In a way it is a similar message to yesterday's - we do ourselves no favors when we are so tied to a course of action that we are unable to actually see what the course of action is leading us to do AND what it may be keeping us from doing.
Psalm 145
Zephaniah 2:1-15
Revelation 16:1-11
Luke 13:10-17
Psalm 145
Several verses quoted out of sequence. First from the second half of the Psalm...
"The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. (vs.14,15)
A great promise that God will be with us in hard times, particularly when we are most in need, when we are looking to God. An earlier verse from this Psalm gives us a clue how this happens.
"On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate."(v.5)
When we take the time to meditate on God's wondrous works and on all the ways God reveals God's majesty to us in our daily lives we find an awesome God for sure, but I believe we find more. We find an awesome God who cares for us. In the midst of all the striking things that God has done when we meditate on God's actions we become aware that God cares deeply about us and is undeniably active and at work in our lives. God is always those things - active and at work in our lives - but we can easily ignore or choose to overlook the presence of God. Being in tune with that work in our regular meditation helps us to experience God at those times of crises, hopelessness and despair in our lives - the times when we are "bowed down".
Luke 13:10-17
Yesterday's Luke passage contained the story of a fig tree that no longer bore fruit. The suggestion was made that we may have some "fig trees" in our lives that are not bearing fruit and perhaps what such a passage might be asking us to do is to evaluate and consider doing away with such trees so that we could put our energy in other, more productive directions. A friend commented that one of the places we may encounter fig trees is in the life of the church. I agree. And believe that it's a good discipline to do as Stan Ott, of the Acts 16:5 Initiative suggests and not simply repeat last years programs again this year because we did them last year. The church can surely be a place where traditions become entrenched and we continue doing things over the years sometimes for little reason than that we've been doing them for a long time. There is certainly nothing wrong with longstanding traditions, but all of them are worthy of examination at least to ask why we are doing them and what purpose we believe is being accomplished in their being done. Today's Luke passage features Jesus healing a woman who has been bent over, unable to stand up straight for many years. Jesus heals her - he frees her from her ailment - and trouble ensues. Jesus has, again, healed on the Sabbath. Some traditionalists are angry with him. Which raises the question how do you get angry with someone for healing someone in any circumstance? Here it is because it runs headlong into a tradition - the Sabbath is a time when no work is to be done. Those who are angry are unable to look past the bottom line of the tradition to examine the content of the action. In a way it is a similar message to yesterday's - we do ourselves no favors when we are so tied to a course of action that we are unable to actually see what the course of action is leading us to do AND what it may be keeping us from doing.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Is It Time To Get Rid Of A Fig Tree Or Two? - November 2, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings For November 2, 2010
Psalm 28
Zephaniah 1:14-18
Revelation 14:14-15:8
Luke 13:1-9
Luke 13:1-9
Jesus tells this parable about a fig tree that doesn't produce figs. The man who owns the vineyard is upset. The tree hasn't produced for three years - he wants it removed. The gardener asks for an extension. One more year. "If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not you can cut it down."(v.9) You can do several things with this story, as is often the case when Jesus tells a parable. We can imagine ourselves in the place of the fig tree. God has put us here to bear fruit. Grace is extended when we are not bearing fruit and we are given additional time. But there is a day when fruit will be expected. Another way of coming at this story though is to ask where the barren fig trees are in our lives and what are we doing with them. How much of our time and energy is wrapped up in efforts that do not bear fruit, which actually may be more life taking than life giving. Why do we keep pouring ourselves into these activities? Habit? Duty? A sense that there is hope for the fig tree? Perhaps the gardner's solution is one that might be helpful to us. Give it a year (or pick your own time frame) and then reevaluate. Perhaps by leaving some of our less fruitful activities behind we might find a new and lifegiving activity or passion that God has planned for us.
Psalm 28
Zephaniah 1:14-18
Revelation 14:14-15:8
Luke 13:1-9
Luke 13:1-9
Jesus tells this parable about a fig tree that doesn't produce figs. The man who owns the vineyard is upset. The tree hasn't produced for three years - he wants it removed. The gardener asks for an extension. One more year. "If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not you can cut it down."(v.9) You can do several things with this story, as is often the case when Jesus tells a parable. We can imagine ourselves in the place of the fig tree. God has put us here to bear fruit. Grace is extended when we are not bearing fruit and we are given additional time. But there is a day when fruit will be expected. Another way of coming at this story though is to ask where the barren fig trees are in our lives and what are we doing with them. How much of our time and energy is wrapped up in efforts that do not bear fruit, which actually may be more life taking than life giving. Why do we keep pouring ourselves into these activities? Habit? Duty? A sense that there is hope for the fig tree? Perhaps the gardner's solution is one that might be helpful to us. Give it a year (or pick your own time frame) and then reevaluate. Perhaps by leaving some of our less fruitful activities behind we might find a new and lifegiving activity or passion that God has planned for us.
All Saints Day - November 1, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 1, 2010
Psalm 2
Isaiah 26:1-21
Revelation 21:9-22:5
Matthew 5:1-12
Revelation 21:9-22:5 and Matthew 5:1-12
These two passages seem appropriate for All Saints Day, a day specifically placed to remind us of those who have gone before us, lived the faith and left us a legacy for which we can only be thankful. The Revelation passage is one of vivid hope. The light of God's coming Kingdom will be brighter than the sun - it's a glorious passage in which the light illuminates the hope of the book of Revelation. It seems that Revelation is forever being explored by those who would use it as a biblical version of tea leaves as though if one looks at it just right, with just enough imagination and creativity and divine inspiration one will know with great specificity what the completion of history will look like in a highly literal way. To which I can only think, what? Without traveling much farther down that road I'd simply point to passages where Jesus implores us to keep awake because he could return at any time, combined with passages where he suggests that it's not for us to know with precision what the end will be like. Revelation is not a road map wrapped in a secret code - it's good news and here in this passage is the good news - the very good news that inspired all those saints who we remember. The words of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 of course also point us to the lives of the saints who have gone before us - to the way they lived their lives, the way those lives inspire us and push us to be more and more the people God created us to be. Thanks be to God for the folks who did the day after day work of living grace filled lives and for the hope that calls us forward into each new day and to God's glorious future.
Psalm 2
Isaiah 26:1-21
Revelation 21:9-22:5
Matthew 5:1-12
Revelation 21:9-22:5 and Matthew 5:1-12
These two passages seem appropriate for All Saints Day, a day specifically placed to remind us of those who have gone before us, lived the faith and left us a legacy for which we can only be thankful. The Revelation passage is one of vivid hope. The light of God's coming Kingdom will be brighter than the sun - it's a glorious passage in which the light illuminates the hope of the book of Revelation. It seems that Revelation is forever being explored by those who would use it as a biblical version of tea leaves as though if one looks at it just right, with just enough imagination and creativity and divine inspiration one will know with great specificity what the completion of history will look like in a highly literal way. To which I can only think, what? Without traveling much farther down that road I'd simply point to passages where Jesus implores us to keep awake because he could return at any time, combined with passages where he suggests that it's not for us to know with precision what the end will be like. Revelation is not a road map wrapped in a secret code - it's good news and here in this passage is the good news - the very good news that inspired all those saints who we remember. The words of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 of course also point us to the lives of the saints who have gone before us - to the way they lived their lives, the way those lives inspire us and push us to be more and more the people God created us to be. Thanks be to God for the folks who did the day after day work of living grace filled lives and for the hope that calls us forward into each new day and to God's glorious future.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Receiving Grace and Dispensing Something Else - October 31, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for October 31, 2010
Psalm 22
Zephaniah 1:1-6
1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13
Matthew 18:21-35
Matthew 18:21-35
A friend was just commenting on the disappointment she felt when she encountered mean-spirited and ugly attitudes and actions from folks who profess to be Christian. Those sorts of statements are painful because it not difficult to imagine what she mentioned taking place and because it's not all that difficult to imagine being guilty of such behavior. What she says is important, not because we Christians are ever going to be perfect, but because it would seem that we who have experienced and acknowledge experiencing the awesome depth of the grace of God might, hopefully exhibit that grace in our dealings with others. Today's Matthew passage makes a similar point. A man, a slave, owes a great debt which his lord forgives. That slave, newly free of debt, encounters a fellow slave who owes him money. With a complete lack of a sense that he understands that magnitude of what the master has just done for him he demands of his fellow slave, "Pay what you owe"(v.29) all the while seizing him by the throat. How is it, that we who experience mercy and grace from God so often fail to extend grace and mercy in our relationships?
Psalm 22
Zephaniah 1:1-6
1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13
Matthew 18:21-35
Matthew 18:21-35
A friend was just commenting on the disappointment she felt when she encountered mean-spirited and ugly attitudes and actions from folks who profess to be Christian. Those sorts of statements are painful because it not difficult to imagine what she mentioned taking place and because it's not all that difficult to imagine being guilty of such behavior. What she says is important, not because we Christians are ever going to be perfect, but because it would seem that we who have experienced and acknowledge experiencing the awesome depth of the grace of God might, hopefully exhibit that grace in our dealings with others. Today's Matthew passage makes a similar point. A man, a slave, owes a great debt which his lord forgives. That slave, newly free of debt, encounters a fellow slave who owes him money. With a complete lack of a sense that he understands that magnitude of what the master has just done for him he demands of his fellow slave, "Pay what you owe"(v.29) all the while seizing him by the throat. How is it, that we who experience mercy and grace from God so often fail to extend grace and mercy in our relationships?
Sunday, October 31, 2010
What Do We Treasure? - October 30, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for October 30, 2010
Psalm 24
Nahum 3:8-19
Revelation 13:11-18
Luke 12:32-48
Luke 12:32-48
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."(v.34)
Coming on the heels of the words about worry serving no good purpose this verse piles good logic on top of excellent common sense. That which we prize the most will certainly be the place where our heart finds itself tied up the most. There are so many wonderful things in life that it is easy to slip from the enjoyment of that which God has provided to being obsessed with the preservation and care of those things. The answer, which began earlier on in Luke 12 is to not be consumed with worry about our things. Today's reading begins with the admonition to "not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."(v.32) Our predicament is that we too often find ourselves wanting our stuff more than we are desiring God's kingdom. And again the answer lies largely in the spiritual disciplines. Prayer, Bible reading, serving God and others...the things that keep us focused on God, listening for God and striving to follow God. Personal discipleship. Michael Slaughter is th pastor of Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City, Ohio and author of one of my favorite books "Momentum For Life". In it he offers a template for personal discipleship that goes like this -
D - Devotion To God
R - Readiness For Lifelong Learning
I - Investing In Key Relationships
V - Visioning For The Future
E - Eating and Exercising For Life
I can't recommend the book highly enough - it's great. And if we are acrtively pursuing these five areas we will find ourselves more inclined to be seeking the kingdom and putting our treasure in our relationship with God which will land our hearts in a very good spot.
Psalm 24
Nahum 3:8-19
Revelation 13:11-18
Luke 12:32-48
Luke 12:32-48
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."(v.34)
Coming on the heels of the words about worry serving no good purpose this verse piles good logic on top of excellent common sense. That which we prize the most will certainly be the place where our heart finds itself tied up the most. There are so many wonderful things in life that it is easy to slip from the enjoyment of that which God has provided to being obsessed with the preservation and care of those things. The answer, which began earlier on in Luke 12 is to not be consumed with worry about our things. Today's reading begins with the admonition to "not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."(v.32) Our predicament is that we too often find ourselves wanting our stuff more than we are desiring God's kingdom. And again the answer lies largely in the spiritual disciplines. Prayer, Bible reading, serving God and others...the things that keep us focused on God, listening for God and striving to follow God. Personal discipleship. Michael Slaughter is th pastor of Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City, Ohio and author of one of my favorite books "Momentum For Life". In it he offers a template for personal discipleship that goes like this -
D - Devotion To God
R - Readiness For Lifelong Learning
I - Investing In Key Relationships
V - Visioning For The Future
E - Eating and Exercising For Life
I can't recommend the book highly enough - it's great. And if we are acrtively pursuing these five areas we will find ourselves more inclined to be seeking the kingdom and putting our treasure in our relationship with God which will land our hearts in a very good spot.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Worry Less - Aim For God's Kingdom - October 29, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for October 29, 2010
Psalm 26
Nahum 2:13-3:7
Revelation 13:1-10
Luke 12:13-31
Luke 12:13-31
"And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?"(v.25)
I'm pretty sure that the answer to the question is no - worrying won't add a bit to the span of my life. And yet worry I do. Typically about things that don't merit the attention and beyond not adding any length to my life, serves absolutely no practical purpose at all. It goes beyond not being constructive; it's inconsistent with the faith I profess. God surely does care for us and provides for us and walks with us all of which I believe and which suggests that worry is a waste of time. Aiming to worry less and to do as Jesus suggests and "Instead, strive for his kingdom...."(v.31) Striving for God's kingdom - there's a purpose with great upside.
Psalm 26
Nahum 2:13-3:7
Revelation 13:1-10
Luke 12:13-31
Luke 12:13-31
"And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?"(v.25)
I'm pretty sure that the answer to the question is no - worrying won't add a bit to the span of my life. And yet worry I do. Typically about things that don't merit the attention and beyond not adding any length to my life, serves absolutely no practical purpose at all. It goes beyond not being constructive; it's inconsistent with the faith I profess. God surely does care for us and provides for us and walks with us all of which I believe and which suggests that worry is a waste of time. Aiming to worry less and to do as Jesus suggests and "Instead, strive for his kingdom...."(v.31) Striving for God's kingdom - there's a purpose with great upside.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Touching On Bullying - October 28, 2010
Psalm 104:1-23
Nahum 1:15-2:12
Revelation 12:7-17
Luke 11:53-12:12
Luke 11:53-12:12
With bullying very much on folks minds in the last little while it may be that we could speak of the Pharisees in this passage as bullies. They are "hostile" towards Jesus. They are "lying in wait" for him. A crowd gathers around and Jesus speaks to his disciples - in front of the crowd - one presumes in a voice loud enough for the disciples, the crowd AND the Pharisees to hear. And gives us one method of dealing with bullies. Call them out.
"Beware the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops."(vs.1b-3)
Whatever we plan, for good or ill, God knows. Whatever our attitude, for good or ill, God knows. Whatever our intent, for good or ill, God knows. Jesus speaks so that those who would plot and scheme and lie in wait and plan traps will be confronted with the truth. They may fool whoever they are able, but God will not be fooled. This strategy, clearly, cannot help every person being bullied. Sometimes the bullies have too much advantage and words such as this would not come. But as they come from Jesus, they should come from people of faith and they should be spoken as reminders to any who would bully - plot - scheme - mistreat another - that however elaborate the plan may be, God knows the heart of what we have done.
Nahum 1:15-2:12
Revelation 12:7-17
Luke 11:53-12:12
Luke 11:53-12:12
With bullying very much on folks minds in the last little while it may be that we could speak of the Pharisees in this passage as bullies. They are "hostile" towards Jesus. They are "lying in wait" for him. A crowd gathers around and Jesus speaks to his disciples - in front of the crowd - one presumes in a voice loud enough for the disciples, the crowd AND the Pharisees to hear. And gives us one method of dealing with bullies. Call them out.
"Beware the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops."(vs.1b-3)
Whatever we plan, for good or ill, God knows. Whatever our attitude, for good or ill, God knows. Whatever our intent, for good or ill, God knows. Jesus speaks so that those who would plot and scheme and lie in wait and plan traps will be confronted with the truth. They may fool whoever they are able, but God will not be fooled. This strategy, clearly, cannot help every person being bullied. Sometimes the bullies have too much advantage and words such as this would not come. But as they come from Jesus, they should come from people of faith and they should be spoken as reminders to any who would bully - plot - scheme - mistreat another - that however elaborate the plan may be, God knows the heart of what we have done.
Outside Looking Inside - October 27, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings For October 27, 2010
Psalm 3
Nahum 1:1-14
Revelation 12:1-6
Luke 11:37-52
Luke 11:37-52
"The the Lord said to him, 'Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?"(vs.39-40)
Jesus accepts an invitation to dinner at the table of a Pharisee. He goes to the table without washing before dinner, catching the attention of the Pharisee and other Pharisee guests. Jesus is, of course, after a point. His very direct words above are a reminder of our focus on superficiality rather than depth. Obvious external blemishes may be washed away, but they are a surface issue. Who we are at our core is not a surface question, but a question that goes to the heart of our being. We may play the present day equivalent of the ritual purity game, but Jesus is concerned with our internal makeup. He cites greed and wickedness as examples and there are surely other blemishes trying to find a home on our inner selves. The devestating cost of those blemishes is not something that can be viewed at a quick glance, but rather something that manifests in our behavior and in our relationships in ways that are destructive and deeply harmful. Jesus encourages us to worry less about the surface and to invest ourselves in attending to our inner selves.
Psalm 3
Nahum 1:1-14
Revelation 12:1-6
Luke 11:37-52
Luke 11:37-52
"The the Lord said to him, 'Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?"(vs.39-40)
Jesus accepts an invitation to dinner at the table of a Pharisee. He goes to the table without washing before dinner, catching the attention of the Pharisee and other Pharisee guests. Jesus is, of course, after a point. His very direct words above are a reminder of our focus on superficiality rather than depth. Obvious external blemishes may be washed away, but they are a surface issue. Who we are at our core is not a surface question, but a question that goes to the heart of our being. We may play the present day equivalent of the ritual purity game, but Jesus is concerned with our internal makeup. He cites greed and wickedness as examples and there are surely other blemishes trying to find a home on our inner selves. The devestating cost of those blemishes is not something that can be viewed at a quick glance, but rather something that manifests in our behavior and in our relationships in ways that are destructive and deeply harmful. Jesus encourages us to worry less about the surface and to invest ourselves in attending to our inner selves.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
What! No Ash Heap!?! - October 26, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for October 26, 2010
Psalm 86
Jonah 3:1-4:11
Revelation 11:14-19
Luke 11:27-36
Jonah 3:1-4:11
Jonah does, grudgingly, as he has been instructed by God and proclaims God's judgment on Nineveh. Nineveh repents and God spares Nineveh. A happy ending. Except, Jonah reveals, not for Jonah. He tells God this is why he headed off in the wrong direction from the outset. God, with his mercy this and his compassion that and his slow to anger nature, Jonah was sure would pass up the opportunity for some seriously well deserved divine wrath. Jonah wanted Nineveh to pay for their actions. Mercy and compassion would just get in the way of justice. God, fortunately, saw it differently, and I think and believe continues to see it differently. I can work up a good fervor and be maybe as nearly as upset with some things as Jonah was with Nineveh while forgetting that my actions, my choices and my decisions have almost certainly harmed others along the way and definitely been, at times, an affront to God. God chose not to follow Jonah's advice on the Nineveh issue and the same mercy that God showed Nineveh has been and continues to be a hallmark of the God revealed to us in Jesus Christ, the God that I experience in the moments where I should really expect punishment and instead find grace. Thanks be to God.
Revelation 11:14-19
"Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of the covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail."(v.19)
This verse concludes todays passage from Revelation and has me wondering if maybe someone is having a peak at the ark of the covenant this afternoon. We've not had the earthquake - not even sure we've had the lightning or thunder much, but the weather has been a bit tempestuous. Wind, wind and more wind. Warm wind and cold wind. And then rain. Light rain. Hard rain. And wind. Being a child of the Xenia tornado of 1974 wind is the one bit of potentially heavy weather with the capacity to make me really nervous. The winds seem to have given way a bit to a steady and somewhat predictable rain. Turning from windy weather of which I am not so fond to a gray, chilly, rainy day that is probably if I had to pick, my weather of preference. Giving thanks for our Company of New Pastors (I'm a co-mentor - who is enjoying listening to wonderfully diverse and creative Advent sermons from our group) gathering in London, Ohio. We began Sunday evening and continue through tomorrow morning, Also thankful for the gift of a couple of spare hours in the afternoon to run in and then read and look out the window at a gloriously drab and dreary afternoon.
Psalm 86
Jonah 3:1-4:11
Revelation 11:14-19
Luke 11:27-36
Jonah 3:1-4:11
Jonah does, grudgingly, as he has been instructed by God and proclaims God's judgment on Nineveh. Nineveh repents and God spares Nineveh. A happy ending. Except, Jonah reveals, not for Jonah. He tells God this is why he headed off in the wrong direction from the outset. God, with his mercy this and his compassion that and his slow to anger nature, Jonah was sure would pass up the opportunity for some seriously well deserved divine wrath. Jonah wanted Nineveh to pay for their actions. Mercy and compassion would just get in the way of justice. God, fortunately, saw it differently, and I think and believe continues to see it differently. I can work up a good fervor and be maybe as nearly as upset with some things as Jonah was with Nineveh while forgetting that my actions, my choices and my decisions have almost certainly harmed others along the way and definitely been, at times, an affront to God. God chose not to follow Jonah's advice on the Nineveh issue and the same mercy that God showed Nineveh has been and continues to be a hallmark of the God revealed to us in Jesus Christ, the God that I experience in the moments where I should really expect punishment and instead find grace. Thanks be to God.
Revelation 11:14-19
"Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of the covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail."(v.19)
This verse concludes todays passage from Revelation and has me wondering if maybe someone is having a peak at the ark of the covenant this afternoon. We've not had the earthquake - not even sure we've had the lightning or thunder much, but the weather has been a bit tempestuous. Wind, wind and more wind. Warm wind and cold wind. And then rain. Light rain. Hard rain. And wind. Being a child of the Xenia tornado of 1974 wind is the one bit of potentially heavy weather with the capacity to make me really nervous. The winds seem to have given way a bit to a steady and somewhat predictable rain. Turning from windy weather of which I am not so fond to a gray, chilly, rainy day that is probably if I had to pick, my weather of preference. Giving thanks for our Company of New Pastors (I'm a co-mentor - who is enjoying listening to wonderfully diverse and creative Advent sermons from our group) gathering in London, Ohio. We began Sunday evening and continue through tomorrow morning, Also thankful for the gift of a couple of spare hours in the afternoon to run in and then read and look out the window at a gloriously drab and dreary afternoon.
Monday, October 25, 2010
It's All Good..Okay, Maybe Not, But There Is Good In It - October 25, 2010
Daily Lectionary for October 25, 2010
Psalm 52
Jonah 1:17-2:10
Revelation 11:1-14
Luke 11:14-26
Jonah 1:17 - 2:10
A classic "things could be worse" moment. Jonah's disobedience has led to a storm, which has led to him being tossed off his boat, which has led to being swallowed by a fish - a bad day by most any measure. So, naturally, the second chapter of Jonah is, from the belly of the fish, a Psalm of Thanksgiving. Because...things could be worse. No fish and Jonah would have just been in the storm tossed waters. God "brought up my life from the Pit".(v.6) "Deliverance belongs to the Lord!"(v.9) Jonah is disobedient at the outset and eventually he will be crabby because of the success of his mission, but here we see Jonah giving us a helpful clue on coping in life. It is more complex than things could be worse - it's why they aren't worse. They aren't worse, because even in awful circumstances Jonah still experiences God's care. We can bemoan the difficulties and challenges of life (and to be clear, Jonah's situation here was self made and quite often ours are as well) or we can look at what could be the gathering gloom and find the way that God is present in it, with us, for us, and loving us.
Psalm 52
Jonah 1:17-2:10
Revelation 11:1-14
Luke 11:14-26
Jonah 1:17 - 2:10
A classic "things could be worse" moment. Jonah's disobedience has led to a storm, which has led to him being tossed off his boat, which has led to being swallowed by a fish - a bad day by most any measure. So, naturally, the second chapter of Jonah is, from the belly of the fish, a Psalm of Thanksgiving. Because...things could be worse. No fish and Jonah would have just been in the storm tossed waters. God "brought up my life from the Pit".(v.6) "Deliverance belongs to the Lord!"(v.9) Jonah is disobedient at the outset and eventually he will be crabby because of the success of his mission, but here we see Jonah giving us a helpful clue on coping in life. It is more complex than things could be worse - it's why they aren't worse. They aren't worse, because even in awful circumstances Jonah still experiences God's care. We can bemoan the difficulties and challenges of life (and to be clear, Jonah's situation here was self made and quite often ours are as well) or we can look at what could be the gathering gloom and find the way that God is present in it, with us, for us, and loving us.
Heading On A Boat In The Wrong Direction In A Storm Of Our Own Making - October 24, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for October 24, 2010
Psalm 122
Jonah 1:1-17a
1 Corinthians 10:15-24
Matthew 18:15-20
Jonah 1:1-17a
Beginning at full speed, the first two verses of Jonah tell of God commanding Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell them that they are wicked and they need to stop it. The rest of chapter one is the story of the mess that unfolds because Jonah chooses to do something other than what God asks. In fact, it's not just that he chose something other than what God asked, it's that he chose something in opposition to what God asked. He ends up on a ship going to NOT NINEVEH, God blows up a storm and everyone on Jonah's ship is praying to whatever gods they may have to do something about the stiuation. Jonah knows, of course, what the problem is - when his shipmates get to him and ask him about his deity of choice Jonah says, "I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."(v.9) Stopping for a moment to assess, we have Jonah stating clearly that he worships the God of heaven, the God who made everything AND we find him acting in direct opposition to what his God has asked of him. This sounds ludicrous when it's stated like that, but it's not just a Jonah problem. It's a me problem. It's a lots of people of faith problem. We gather on Sunday mornings and worship - worship the same God who Jonah worshipped and we would make the same professions of faith about God that Jonah made. And after worship we would, like Jonah act in ways that are at odds with what we know - not guess, but know - to be God's will. Some of it may be a little fuzzy or uncertain to us, but there are plenty of things that we know in our hearts that God desires for us and of us which we act in opposition to with regularity. Like Jonah it leaves us on a boat heading in the wrong direction facing a storm of our own making. Why is obedience so hard?
Luke 18:15-20
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."(v.20)
Great verse for the gathering I am participating in for the next couple of days. Meeting with just a few more than two or three folks from The Company of New Pastors. CNP is a program of the Presbyterian Church (USA) which brings together groups of pastors at the beginning of their time in ordained ministry. The oversimplified version of the goal of the group is to keep new pastors thinking about their call to ministry and providing a group to support and encourage that call. There are a multitude of ways to experience the fading and flagging of one's passion for following God's call. This is an attempt to be proactive in meetings those challenges. I am fortunate to be a co-mentor for a group. Fortunate in many ways, not the least of which is that being with folks who are in the earlier stages of their ministry is renewing and invigorating and makes me grateful for my own call and for the faith community at Hebron that I serve. And it's just one more bonus that we meet at the Procter Center in central Ohio within an hour or so of my hometown of Xenia. The area where we are meeting is farm country, flat as all get out and beautiful in a way that only Ohio knows how to be. Sweet to be here.
Psalm 122
Jonah 1:1-17a
1 Corinthians 10:15-24
Matthew 18:15-20
Jonah 1:1-17a
Beginning at full speed, the first two verses of Jonah tell of God commanding Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell them that they are wicked and they need to stop it. The rest of chapter one is the story of the mess that unfolds because Jonah chooses to do something other than what God asks. In fact, it's not just that he chose something other than what God asked, it's that he chose something in opposition to what God asked. He ends up on a ship going to NOT NINEVEH, God blows up a storm and everyone on Jonah's ship is praying to whatever gods they may have to do something about the stiuation. Jonah knows, of course, what the problem is - when his shipmates get to him and ask him about his deity of choice Jonah says, "I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."(v.9) Stopping for a moment to assess, we have Jonah stating clearly that he worships the God of heaven, the God who made everything AND we find him acting in direct opposition to what his God has asked of him. This sounds ludicrous when it's stated like that, but it's not just a Jonah problem. It's a me problem. It's a lots of people of faith problem. We gather on Sunday mornings and worship - worship the same God who Jonah worshipped and we would make the same professions of faith about God that Jonah made. And after worship we would, like Jonah act in ways that are at odds with what we know - not guess, but know - to be God's will. Some of it may be a little fuzzy or uncertain to us, but there are plenty of things that we know in our hearts that God desires for us and of us which we act in opposition to with regularity. Like Jonah it leaves us on a boat heading in the wrong direction facing a storm of our own making. Why is obedience so hard?
Luke 18:15-20
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."(v.20)
Great verse for the gathering I am participating in for the next couple of days. Meeting with just a few more than two or three folks from The Company of New Pastors. CNP is a program of the Presbyterian Church (USA) which brings together groups of pastors at the beginning of their time in ordained ministry. The oversimplified version of the goal of the group is to keep new pastors thinking about their call to ministry and providing a group to support and encourage that call. There are a multitude of ways to experience the fading and flagging of one's passion for following God's call. This is an attempt to be proactive in meetings those challenges. I am fortunate to be a co-mentor for a group. Fortunate in many ways, not the least of which is that being with folks who are in the earlier stages of their ministry is renewing and invigorating and makes me grateful for my own call and for the faith community at Hebron that I serve. And it's just one more bonus that we meet at the Procter Center in central Ohio within an hour or so of my hometown of Xenia. The area where we are meeting is farm country, flat as all get out and beautiful in a way that only Ohio knows how to be. Sweet to be here.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Giving The Mute Button A Workout - October 23, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for October 23, 2010
Psalm 15
Micah 7:1-7
Revelations 10:1-11
Luke 11:1-13
Micah 7:1-7
"Their hands are skilled to do evil;
the official and the judge ask for a bribe,
and the powerful dictate what they desire;
thus they pervert justice.
The best of them is like a brier,
the most upright of them a thorn hedge."(vs.3-4)
This passage was in front of my eyes as yet another cartoonish political ad was in my ears (mute button since pushed). The passage seems compatible with the commercial. The powerful do seem to dictate what they desire. The best of them is like a brier and the most upright does seem like a thorn hedge. Each campaign season someone (sometimes me) says, "These are the worst ads ever. They have reached a new low." Usually the low they reach is not a new one, it's the same one they hit last time and will again next time. Something about the campaign process brings out the worst in those of whom we should hope for the best. It's a troublesome time of the year. There are truly issues worthy of discussion and important events at ever level from local to national and yet we are subjected to personal attacks and overly simplistic at best and sladerous at worst portrayals of the candidates. What to do? Pray for the candidates. Pray for our communities. Pray for our nation and for our world. And keep the mute button handy - you'll need it.
Psalm 15
Micah 7:1-7
Revelations 10:1-11
Luke 11:1-13
Micah 7:1-7
"Their hands are skilled to do evil;
the official and the judge ask for a bribe,
and the powerful dictate what they desire;
thus they pervert justice.
The best of them is like a brier,
the most upright of them a thorn hedge."(vs.3-4)
This passage was in front of my eyes as yet another cartoonish political ad was in my ears (mute button since pushed). The passage seems compatible with the commercial. The powerful do seem to dictate what they desire. The best of them is like a brier and the most upright does seem like a thorn hedge. Each campaign season someone (sometimes me) says, "These are the worst ads ever. They have reached a new low." Usually the low they reach is not a new one, it's the same one they hit last time and will again next time. Something about the campaign process brings out the worst in those of whom we should hope for the best. It's a troublesome time of the year. There are truly issues worthy of discussion and important events at ever level from local to national and yet we are subjected to personal attacks and overly simplistic at best and sladerous at worst portrayals of the candidates. What to do? Pray for the candidates. Pray for our communities. Pray for our nation and for our world. And keep the mute button handy - you'll need it.
One Thing That Is Needful (and a good Friday Night) - October 22, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for October 22, 2010
Psalm 7
Micah 6:1-8
Revelation 9:13-21
Luke 10:38-42
Luke 10:38-42
Jesus stops in to visit with Mary and Martha. Mary drops everything to sit at Jesus' feet. Martha knows there is stuff to be done so she keeps busy and in a spare moment suggests that Jesus set Mary straight and tell her to get to work. Jesus tells Martha she is the one with something to learn and that she can begin her studies by learning from Mary. "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."(vs.41-42) This is the same Jesus who interacted with would-be followers at the end of Luke 9 by refusing to validate what seem to be legifitmate reasons to momentarily delay following him. Martha, with the best of intentions, finds herself with that group - Mary, as Jesus says, gets it. There is need of only one thing. All else must find its place behind that one thing.
Friday Night Lights
What a wonderful ordinary great evening. A Friday night in the fall. Bullitt East playing on the road at Larue County. Julie is at the Galt Hosue working on the National Christian Educators Fellowship Gathering for the United Methodist Church. Eliza is there helping. So I was planning to go to the game and thinking Cameron would probably stay at home. Instead he found out a friend would be there and decided to go. Enjoyed the trip up and back in the car with him - he's been going to high school football games with me for awhile now - he's graduated from sitting in the bleachers during games, but it's just pleasant to know he's there and I'm there and there is football to watch on a chilly Friday night in the fall.
Psalm 7
Micah 6:1-8
Revelation 9:13-21
Luke 10:38-42
Luke 10:38-42
Jesus stops in to visit with Mary and Martha. Mary drops everything to sit at Jesus' feet. Martha knows there is stuff to be done so she keeps busy and in a spare moment suggests that Jesus set Mary straight and tell her to get to work. Jesus tells Martha she is the one with something to learn and that she can begin her studies by learning from Mary. "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."(vs.41-42) This is the same Jesus who interacted with would-be followers at the end of Luke 9 by refusing to validate what seem to be legifitmate reasons to momentarily delay following him. Martha, with the best of intentions, finds herself with that group - Mary, as Jesus says, gets it. There is need of only one thing. All else must find its place behind that one thing.
Friday Night Lights
What a wonderful ordinary great evening. A Friday night in the fall. Bullitt East playing on the road at Larue County. Julie is at the Galt Hosue working on the National Christian Educators Fellowship Gathering for the United Methodist Church. Eliza is there helping. So I was planning to go to the game and thinking Cameron would probably stay at home. Instead he found out a friend would be there and decided to go. Enjoyed the trip up and back in the car with him - he's been going to high school football games with me for awhile now - he's graduated from sitting in the bleachers during games, but it's just pleasant to know he's there and I'm there and there is football to watch on a chilly Friday night in the fall.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Ain't No Exclusionary Circle Large Enough - October 21, 2010
Daily Lectionary for October 21, 2010
Psalm 143
Micah 5:1-4, 10-15
Revelation 9:1-12
Luke 10:25-37
Luke 10:25-37
A lawyer is in the midst of a back and forth with Jesus. The lawyer wants to know what he has to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asks him what the law says.The lawyer replies the laws instruction is to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus agrees. The young man then gets to the crucial question - "And who is my neighbor."(v.29) Here is the critical difference between Jesus and us. We want to know how big we have to make the circle. Or rather, how small. How many folks must we love and who can we leave on the outside looking in. What is the maximum required? What are the boundaries? And Jesus wants no part of exclusion, no part of boundaries, has no interest in limits. Who are your neighbors? Everyone. The people next door. The people up the street. The people you like. The people you don't like. Everybody is your neighbor. Forget trying to figure out where you can stop loving folks, because there isn't an exclusionary circle we can draw big enough to satisfy Jesus definition of neighbor. Until everyone is inside the circle. Once that's done, we've got it - they are all our neighbors.
Psalm 143
Micah 5:1-4, 10-15
Revelation 9:1-12
Luke 10:25-37
Luke 10:25-37
A lawyer is in the midst of a back and forth with Jesus. The lawyer wants to know what he has to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asks him what the law says.The lawyer replies the laws instruction is to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus agrees. The young man then gets to the crucial question - "And who is my neighbor."(v.29) Here is the critical difference between Jesus and us. We want to know how big we have to make the circle. Or rather, how small. How many folks must we love and who can we leave on the outside looking in. What is the maximum required? What are the boundaries? And Jesus wants no part of exclusion, no part of boundaries, has no interest in limits. Who are your neighbors? Everyone. The people next door. The people up the street. The people you like. The people you don't like. Everybody is your neighbor. Forget trying to figure out where you can stop loving folks, because there isn't an exclusionary circle we can draw big enough to satisfy Jesus definition of neighbor. Until everyone is inside the circle. Once that's done, we've got it - they are all our neighbors.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Life Abundant And Honest Talk With God - October 20, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for October 20, 2010
Psalm 32
Micah 3:9-4:5
Revelation 8:1-13
Luke 10:17-24
Psalm 32
Sin. It's front and center in this passage and as such one might imagine it's a kind of gloomy bit of Scripture. Not so much. In fact, discussion of sin, especially confession of sin, as is the case in Psalm 32 is freeing, liberating and joyful.
"While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.'
and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (vs.4 and 5)
We sin. We live with it. It weights upon us and takes a physical, mental and spiritual toll. And it's not a secret to God. Whether we take it up with God, God is aware of it and our feelings of dislocation in relation to God grow, in large part because of our focusing of resources on carrying a burden we need not carry. God knows we sin. God knows we will confess a sin today and commit more shortly after we've finished our confession. This is not a call to be dismissive of our sinfulness - we want to strive to follow Christ and to live within God's plan and God's will more faithfully - but it is a call to recognize that our life will have more possibility of being the life abundant Scripture talks about if we aren't devoting ourselves to covering our sinfulness. In acknowledging our sin before God there is forgiveness, there is a lifting of the heaviness that weighs us down, there is the experience of God's grace, there are better possibilities for the future.
Micah 3:9 - 4:5
"Its rulers give judgments for a bribe,
its priests teach for a price,
its prophets give oracles for money;
yet they lean upon the Lord and say,
'Surely the Lord is with us!'
Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field;
Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,
and the mountain of the house a wooded height."
Micah is covering similar ground to the Psalmist. The relationship between God and the rulers, priests and prophets is out of joint, it is dislocated. The proclaim, "Surely God is with us", while at the same time continuing, unrepentant, in behavior that moves them away from God. God is indeed with us, but habitual sinful behavior on our part clouds are ability to hear God's voice and to respond with any degree of faithfulness. We are willfully disobedient and yet, somehow, desirous of God's blessing. It is asking ourselves to pull off a feat of comparmentalization that is really beyond our ability to maintain.
Psalm 32
Micah 3:9-4:5
Revelation 8:1-13
Luke 10:17-24
Psalm 32
Sin. It's front and center in this passage and as such one might imagine it's a kind of gloomy bit of Scripture. Not so much. In fact, discussion of sin, especially confession of sin, as is the case in Psalm 32 is freeing, liberating and joyful.
"While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.'
and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (vs.4 and 5)
We sin. We live with it. It weights upon us and takes a physical, mental and spiritual toll. And it's not a secret to God. Whether we take it up with God, God is aware of it and our feelings of dislocation in relation to God grow, in large part because of our focusing of resources on carrying a burden we need not carry. God knows we sin. God knows we will confess a sin today and commit more shortly after we've finished our confession. This is not a call to be dismissive of our sinfulness - we want to strive to follow Christ and to live within God's plan and God's will more faithfully - but it is a call to recognize that our life will have more possibility of being the life abundant Scripture talks about if we aren't devoting ourselves to covering our sinfulness. In acknowledging our sin before God there is forgiveness, there is a lifting of the heaviness that weighs us down, there is the experience of God's grace, there are better possibilities for the future.
Micah 3:9 - 4:5
"Its rulers give judgments for a bribe,
its priests teach for a price,
its prophets give oracles for money;
yet they lean upon the Lord and say,
'Surely the Lord is with us!'
Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field;
Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,
and the mountain of the house a wooded height."
Micah is covering similar ground to the Psalmist. The relationship between God and the rulers, priests and prophets is out of joint, it is dislocated. The proclaim, "Surely God is with us", while at the same time continuing, unrepentant, in behavior that moves them away from God. God is indeed with us, but habitual sinful behavior on our part clouds are ability to hear God's voice and to respond with any degree of faithfulness. We are willfully disobedient and yet, somehow, desirous of God's blessing. It is asking ourselves to pull off a feat of comparmentalization that is really beyond our ability to maintain.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Tuesday Morning Prayer Group - October 19, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for October 19, 2010
Psalm 116
Micah 3:1-8
Revelation 7:9-17
Luke 10:1-16
Psalm 116
In which the Psalmist offers praise to God for being sustained through hard times. A timely Psalm as we've just finished our Tuesday morning prayer group here at Hebron Presbyterian. In our time together we read Scripture, passages from the book When You Pray, by Rueben Job, and share prayer concerns and celebrations. We culminate our time together with prayer. This Psalm offers encouragement to us as we pray from the perspective of someone who has been through a hard time and emerged in tact. The Psalm also reminds us, by example, that there is great value to watching what we have prayed for and remembering to continue the conversation with God in thanks and praise when we experience God's answers to our prayers.
Psalm 116
Micah 3:1-8
Revelation 7:9-17
Luke 10:1-16
Psalm 116
In which the Psalmist offers praise to God for being sustained through hard times. A timely Psalm as we've just finished our Tuesday morning prayer group here at Hebron Presbyterian. In our time together we read Scripture, passages from the book When You Pray, by Rueben Job, and share prayer concerns and celebrations. We culminate our time together with prayer. This Psalm offers encouragement to us as we pray from the perspective of someone who has been through a hard time and emerged in tact. The Psalm also reminds us, by example, that there is great value to watching what we have prayed for and remembering to continue the conversation with God in thanks and praise when we experience God's answers to our prayers.
Monday, October 18, 2010
The Wee Small Hours of the Morning - October 18, 2010
Daily Lectionary for October 18, 2010
Psalm 119:145-176
Micah 2:1-13
Revelations 7:1-8
Luke 9:51-62
Psalm 119:146-176 and Micah 2:1-13
I rise up before dawn and cry for help;
I put my hope in your words.
My eyes are awake before each watch of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise.(Psalm 119:148)
Alas for those who devise wickedness
and evil deeds on their beds!
When the morning dawns, they perform it,
because it is in their power.(Micah 2:1)
Found it interesting that both of these passages seem concerned with what's going on in our restful hours. The Psalmist talks about how rising early to turn to God and approaching the watches of the night fixed on meditation. Micah speaks of those who go to sleep planning bad actions and wake up prepared to carry them out. A watch word of my understanding of the faith journey over the past several years has been the word intention. Disicpleship is not throwing oneself blindly into each new day and hoping for the best. Discipleship is intentionally aiming to position oneself in places where it seems most likely that God may put us to use in positive ways. The spiritual disciplines are all about intent. Prayer. Scripture reading. Worship. Acts of service. Sharing our faith in word and deed. Looking for God at work in our world and in our lives. Anticipating God's action in our lives as we start the day and reviewing the day at the end to see where we can discern God's Spirit at work. There is no magic to this, but there is common sense. If our minds are set on anger, bitterness, division and the like our days will most likely be consumed with these things. If our hearts are set on God, it is not that God is more likely to act, it is more likely that we will notice that God is acting all the time.
Rubicon
AMC's Rubicon ended it's intial season last night. The show which has been slow, thick, hard to follow and brilliant remained so through it's final scene. There were a number of payoffs last night, but nearly as many new questions were raised which leads to the hope that rumors of the show not being renewed are just that, rumors. Very much enjoyed season one of Rubicon and very much hoping for a season two.
Psalm 119:145-176
Micah 2:1-13
Revelations 7:1-8
Luke 9:51-62
Psalm 119:146-176 and Micah 2:1-13
I rise up before dawn and cry for help;
I put my hope in your words.
My eyes are awake before each watch of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise.(Psalm 119:148)
Alas for those who devise wickedness
and evil deeds on their beds!
When the morning dawns, they perform it,
because it is in their power.(Micah 2:1)
Found it interesting that both of these passages seem concerned with what's going on in our restful hours. The Psalmist talks about how rising early to turn to God and approaching the watches of the night fixed on meditation. Micah speaks of those who go to sleep planning bad actions and wake up prepared to carry them out. A watch word of my understanding of the faith journey over the past several years has been the word intention. Disicpleship is not throwing oneself blindly into each new day and hoping for the best. Discipleship is intentionally aiming to position oneself in places where it seems most likely that God may put us to use in positive ways. The spiritual disciplines are all about intent. Prayer. Scripture reading. Worship. Acts of service. Sharing our faith in word and deed. Looking for God at work in our world and in our lives. Anticipating God's action in our lives as we start the day and reviewing the day at the end to see where we can discern God's Spirit at work. There is no magic to this, but there is common sense. If our minds are set on anger, bitterness, division and the like our days will most likely be consumed with these things. If our hearts are set on God, it is not that God is more likely to act, it is more likely that we will notice that God is acting all the time.
Rubicon
AMC's Rubicon ended it's intial season last night. The show which has been slow, thick, hard to follow and brilliant remained so through it's final scene. There were a number of payoffs last night, but nearly as many new questions were raised which leads to the hope that rumors of the show not being renewed are just that, rumors. Very much enjoyed season one of Rubicon and very much hoping for a season two.
The Testing That Is Common To All Of Us - October 17, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for October 17, 2010
Psalm 119:121-144
Micah 1:1-9
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Matthew 16:13-20
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
"No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he willl not let you be treated beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it."(v.13)
One of the truisms that often pass the lips of people of faith is that God will not give us a weight so heavy that we are not able to carry it. This must be one of the bedrock pieces of the foundation of such sayings. The passage is a series of reminders of those who have not been faithful in the past and from whose example we are to learn. What I find most helpful here is not the fact that God won't ask more of me than I can endure. God knows me far better than I know myself so I don't reallyfind this all that surprising. I'd surely ask very little of myself, with a low expectation of what I might be able to take. What really speaks to me in this verse is the beginning sentence. "No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone." Our suffering is not unique to us. It is not some punishment visited upon one of us that the rest of us do not have to deal with. Pain is common. It's fundamentally a part of our human experience. And somehow I suspect that the joys and the pleasures of life don't work without the testing that is common to all of us. The testing tha tis common to all of us is a constant remidner that something larger is going on and that God's plan is ever unfolding. And how awesome, if at times difficult and troubling, to be a part of that unfolding reality.
Preached this morning on the 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 passage. Second of a three sermon set called "Letter To A Friend" and reflecting on Paul's advice to his protege Timothy and how it applies not only to Timothy, but to us. This morning was titled "There Is A Truth" and was built around Pauls counsel that Timothy hold fast to the truth of Scripture, remembeing who he had learned it from and what the message of Scripture spoke to him. There are many doctrines that may sound more appealing, comfortable and may be offered as alternatives or modifications of the truth he encountered in Scripture. He is to be wary of such things. So are we.
Psalm 119:121-144
Micah 1:1-9
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Matthew 16:13-20
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
"No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he willl not let you be treated beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it."(v.13)
One of the truisms that often pass the lips of people of faith is that God will not give us a weight so heavy that we are not able to carry it. This must be one of the bedrock pieces of the foundation of such sayings. The passage is a series of reminders of those who have not been faithful in the past and from whose example we are to learn. What I find most helpful here is not the fact that God won't ask more of me than I can endure. God knows me far better than I know myself so I don't reallyfind this all that surprising. I'd surely ask very little of myself, with a low expectation of what I might be able to take. What really speaks to me in this verse is the beginning sentence. "No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone." Our suffering is not unique to us. It is not some punishment visited upon one of us that the rest of us do not have to deal with. Pain is common. It's fundamentally a part of our human experience. And somehow I suspect that the joys and the pleasures of life don't work without the testing that is common to all of us. The testing tha tis common to all of us is a constant remidner that something larger is going on and that God's plan is ever unfolding. And how awesome, if at times difficult and troubling, to be a part of that unfolding reality.
Preached this morning on the 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 passage. Second of a three sermon set called "Letter To A Friend" and reflecting on Paul's advice to his protege Timothy and how it applies not only to Timothy, but to us. This morning was titled "There Is A Truth" and was built around Pauls counsel that Timothy hold fast to the truth of Scripture, remembeing who he had learned it from and what the message of Scripture spoke to him. There are many doctrines that may sound more appealing, comfortable and may be offered as alternatives or modifications of the truth he encountered in Scripture. He is to be wary of such things. So are we.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
An Eternally Flawed and Forever Disappointing Endeavor - October 16, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for October 16, 2010
Psalm 119:970-120
Hosea 14:1-9
Acts 28:17-31
Luke 9:37-50
Hosea 14:1-9
"O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.
I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulness comes from me."(v.8)
I love when a familiar thought gets turned a bit and provides a different view. That's happening here. Idols are not good things. They get in the way of our relationship with God and we find ourselves drawn to them for whatever they seem to promise. We get that theme a lot and, of course, it's right. The turn here is that God's question moves past the why do you chase after idols question to make the point that chasing after idols is an eternally flawed and forever disappointing endeavor. It's not just a violation of our relationship with God it flies in the face of our experience. As is pointed out, it is God who answers us and looks after us. Idols, being idols, do not do either.
Acts 28:17-31
"Go to this people and say,
You will indeed listen , but never understand,
and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
For this people's heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn -
and would heal them"(vs.26-27)
Paul's words to those who fail to receive his teachings fall somewhere on the spectrum with the thoughts on the Hosea passage. What causes us to continue to think we will find answers somewhere other than God - or why do we continue to turn a deaf ear to God's voice calling to us? Perhaps because our hearts can grow dull. Tomorrow is Sunday and with Sunday comes the opportunity to gather with the body of Christ and worship. In doing this we offer praise to God and we practice a discipline that helps us to keep our heart committed to God.
Psalm 119:970-120
Hosea 14:1-9
Acts 28:17-31
Luke 9:37-50
Hosea 14:1-9
"O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.
I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulness comes from me."(v.8)
I love when a familiar thought gets turned a bit and provides a different view. That's happening here. Idols are not good things. They get in the way of our relationship with God and we find ourselves drawn to them for whatever they seem to promise. We get that theme a lot and, of course, it's right. The turn here is that God's question moves past the why do you chase after idols question to make the point that chasing after idols is an eternally flawed and forever disappointing endeavor. It's not just a violation of our relationship with God it flies in the face of our experience. As is pointed out, it is God who answers us and looks after us. Idols, being idols, do not do either.
Acts 28:17-31
"Go to this people and say,
You will indeed listen , but never understand,
and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
For this people's heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn -
and would heal them"(vs.26-27)
Paul's words to those who fail to receive his teachings fall somewhere on the spectrum with the thoughts on the Hosea passage. What causes us to continue to think we will find answers somewhere other than God - or why do we continue to turn a deaf ear to God's voice calling to us? Perhaps because our hearts can grow dull. Tomorrow is Sunday and with Sunday comes the opportunity to gather with the body of Christ and worship. In doing this we offer praise to God and we practice a discipline that helps us to keep our heart committed to God.
Friday, October 15, 2010
It's Beyond Us - October 15, 2010
Daily Lectionary for October 15, 2010
Psalm 119:73-96
Hosea 13:9-16
Acts 28:1-16
Luke 9:28-36
Acts 28:1-16
If the texts above look familiar it's because I think I listed today's texts yesterday. Just to further the confusion though the Acts text on Paul's shipwreck that I referenced yesterday was Acts 27:27-44 which was the right text for yesterday. So on we go.
Today the shipwreck folks find that the island they are on is the island of Malta. They make a fire because it's cold and the text says that a viper jumps out of the brush that Paul is using on the fire and "fastened itself on his hand." The response of the onlookers in interesting. They first interpret this as a sign of divine judgment. They anticipate that at any moment Paul is going to get all swollen up and fall over dead - or some variation on that theme. What else could this possibly mean? Paul, however, does not swell up and does not keel over at this point which forces a reevaluation of the event. Paul goes from being the object of judgment to being a god. Paul does some curing and some praying and most likely some preaching and teaching as the opportunity arises. What is well worth pointing out is that Paul shows no inclination to embracing his recently conferred godhood. Paul, like the disciples, does amazing things, but always with a hand pointing beyond himself to Christ.
Luke 9:28-36
(yesterday's Luke passage was actually to have been Luke 9:18-27)
Luke 9:28-36 is the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. He's on a mountain when he becomes all dazzling white and suddenly Moses and Elijah are talking with him. Some disciples see this, have a brief interaction with Jesus about how they should respond to what they see and then continue on their way. "And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen."(v.36b) Because really how would that sound to someone from the general population - "Hey - I just saw Jesus and he started glowing and then Moses and Elijah were talking with him." Never mind that people don't glow, that Elijah is long dead, that Moses is even longer dead and so on...yes, I suppose they might have kept quiet about this for a bit. And the thing is that this kind of extraordinary stuff was happening all the time as they followed Jesus around. Eventually, post-resurrection, they process this wealth of itneractions and begin to bear witness to what they have lived. Pointing to Jesus. Which circles back around to the theme above out of the Paul passage. Paul did not follow Jesus around and did not share all of these experiences, but Paul did have his Damascus road experience with the risen Christ. The folks who encountered (and who encounter) Christ are changed. They (and we) are moved by the relationship in a way that leads us to point beyond ourselves to Christ. They are changed. We are changed. And it is a joy to point to the source of that change.
Psalm 119:73-96
Hosea 13:9-16
Acts 28:1-16
Luke 9:28-36
Acts 28:1-16
If the texts above look familiar it's because I think I listed today's texts yesterday. Just to further the confusion though the Acts text on Paul's shipwreck that I referenced yesterday was Acts 27:27-44 which was the right text for yesterday. So on we go.
Today the shipwreck folks find that the island they are on is the island of Malta. They make a fire because it's cold and the text says that a viper jumps out of the brush that Paul is using on the fire and "fastened itself on his hand." The response of the onlookers in interesting. They first interpret this as a sign of divine judgment. They anticipate that at any moment Paul is going to get all swollen up and fall over dead - or some variation on that theme. What else could this possibly mean? Paul, however, does not swell up and does not keel over at this point which forces a reevaluation of the event. Paul goes from being the object of judgment to being a god. Paul does some curing and some praying and most likely some preaching and teaching as the opportunity arises. What is well worth pointing out is that Paul shows no inclination to embracing his recently conferred godhood. Paul, like the disciples, does amazing things, but always with a hand pointing beyond himself to Christ.
Luke 9:28-36
(yesterday's Luke passage was actually to have been Luke 9:18-27)
Luke 9:28-36 is the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. He's on a mountain when he becomes all dazzling white and suddenly Moses and Elijah are talking with him. Some disciples see this, have a brief interaction with Jesus about how they should respond to what they see and then continue on their way. "And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen."(v.36b) Because really how would that sound to someone from the general population - "Hey - I just saw Jesus and he started glowing and then Moses and Elijah were talking with him." Never mind that people don't glow, that Elijah is long dead, that Moses is even longer dead and so on...yes, I suppose they might have kept quiet about this for a bit. And the thing is that this kind of extraordinary stuff was happening all the time as they followed Jesus around. Eventually, post-resurrection, they process this wealth of itneractions and begin to bear witness to what they have lived. Pointing to Jesus. Which circles back around to the theme above out of the Paul passage. Paul did not follow Jesus around and did not share all of these experiences, but Paul did have his Damascus road experience with the risen Christ. The folks who encountered (and who encounter) Christ are changed. They (and we) are moved by the relationship in a way that leads us to point beyond ourselves to Christ. They are changed. We are changed. And it is a joy to point to the source of that change.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Menacing Windshields Advancing With Intent - October 14, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for October 14, 2010
Psalm 119:73-96
Hosea 13:9-16
Acts 28:1-16
Luke 9:28-36
Hosea 13:9-16
"I will destroy you, O Israel, who can help you?
Where now is your king, that he may save you?
Where in all your cities are your rulers, of whom you said, 'Give me a king and rulers.'" (v.9-10)
Hosea is pronouncing God's judgment on Israel. Things are about to fall apart in the northern kingdom of Israel. God's words remind the people that on the other side of all of the things they would confer power upon (kings and princes for instance) there is ultimate power in the hands of God alone. I've read in various places about the concept of the "tyranny of the urgent". Typically the idea is that we rush through life from thing to thing that demands our attention, paying attention to the urgent at the expense of stepping back and leaving a moment or several for long term thinking and considerations. It's a recipe for a non-reflective life, the life of a bug desperately trying to avoid menacing windshields advancing with intent. This passage gives another dimension to the tyranny of the urgent idea - we pay attention and homage to the most immediate power on the horizon. Be it king or prince or boss or celebrity. We encounter what appears to be a repository of power and we are drawn in for a closer look. They can be magnetic and irresistible. And they are close by, right here, right now. Like the folks in Hosea's Israel we can forget that the power of this world is illusory. When pushed to the brink we may remember this and cry out to God for help. How much more depth might we find in our lives if we could more regularly remember the power resides now and always with God and live our lives and make our decisions with that reality in sight?
Acts 28:1-16
The Acts passage echoes the above point. The storm threatens to destroy the ship and kill everyone on it. The storm strips away the difference between the caste system of the ship, between crew and prisoners, at this point they are all people whose lives are in danger.
Luke 9:18-27
And finally Luke weighs in with this - "What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?"(v.25) Gain the power of the kings and princes and CEO's and national leaders and at the end of the day who is in charge? Still God who is still looking at the faithfulness of our response to whatever gifts and resources have been placed in our path.
Psalm 119:73-96
Hosea 13:9-16
Acts 28:1-16
Luke 9:28-36
Hosea 13:9-16
"I will destroy you, O Israel, who can help you?
Where now is your king, that he may save you?
Where in all your cities are your rulers, of whom you said, 'Give me a king and rulers.'" (v.9-10)
Hosea is pronouncing God's judgment on Israel. Things are about to fall apart in the northern kingdom of Israel. God's words remind the people that on the other side of all of the things they would confer power upon (kings and princes for instance) there is ultimate power in the hands of God alone. I've read in various places about the concept of the "tyranny of the urgent". Typically the idea is that we rush through life from thing to thing that demands our attention, paying attention to the urgent at the expense of stepping back and leaving a moment or several for long term thinking and considerations. It's a recipe for a non-reflective life, the life of a bug desperately trying to avoid menacing windshields advancing with intent. This passage gives another dimension to the tyranny of the urgent idea - we pay attention and homage to the most immediate power on the horizon. Be it king or prince or boss or celebrity. We encounter what appears to be a repository of power and we are drawn in for a closer look. They can be magnetic and irresistible. And they are close by, right here, right now. Like the folks in Hosea's Israel we can forget that the power of this world is illusory. When pushed to the brink we may remember this and cry out to God for help. How much more depth might we find in our lives if we could more regularly remember the power resides now and always with God and live our lives and make our decisions with that reality in sight?
Acts 28:1-16
The Acts passage echoes the above point. The storm threatens to destroy the ship and kill everyone on it. The storm strips away the difference between the caste system of the ship, between crew and prisoners, at this point they are all people whose lives are in danger.
Luke 9:18-27
And finally Luke weighs in with this - "What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?"(v.25) Gain the power of the kings and princes and CEO's and national leaders and at the end of the day who is in charge? Still God who is still looking at the faithfulness of our response to whatever gifts and resources have been placed in our path.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Storm! Shipwreck! It's Alright! - October 13, 2010
Daily Lectionary Reading for October 13, 2010
Psalm 119:25-48
Hosea 13:1-3
Acts 27:9-26
Luke 9:1-17
Acts 27:9-26
Right here towards the end of the book of Acts a Clive Cussler novel breaks out. There is a storm brewing - Paul counsels not heading into the impending danger, but his advice is not heeded and off they go. They storm comes, thinks are touch and go and Paul steps forward once again to speak a word of hope - sort of - that is they may lose everything, but they are going to live. A powerful piece of the story is how we can use the language and vocaublary of this story to talk about the poor decisions we make in life (let's set sail) which result in being caught up in storms and difficulties. In the midst of all that there is hope - in this story a very specific word of hope from Paul, but a specific word based on a larger promise of God's faithfulness. When things are tough and your boat is maybe about to be not your boat anymore, God still has a word of hope.
Luke 9:1-17
The passage opens with an instruction to the twelve who are being sent on a missionary journey. They are told to take nothing with them - to travel light. Further on we have the story of the feeding of five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish - which typically would not be enough for five thousand people. In light of the shipwreck story where Paul tells his shipmates that they will survive, but not much of their stuff will survive with them, these stories from Luke drive home the point that we can do much with little in the way of material resources. And further makes the point that we are our most valuable resource for making a difference. How will God use us.
Psalm 119:25-48
Hosea 13:1-3
Acts 27:9-26
Luke 9:1-17
Acts 27:9-26
Right here towards the end of the book of Acts a Clive Cussler novel breaks out. There is a storm brewing - Paul counsels not heading into the impending danger, but his advice is not heeded and off they go. They storm comes, thinks are touch and go and Paul steps forward once again to speak a word of hope - sort of - that is they may lose everything, but they are going to live. A powerful piece of the story is how we can use the language and vocaublary of this story to talk about the poor decisions we make in life (let's set sail) which result in being caught up in storms and difficulties. In the midst of all that there is hope - in this story a very specific word of hope from Paul, but a specific word based on a larger promise of God's faithfulness. When things are tough and your boat is maybe about to be not your boat anymore, God still has a word of hope.
Luke 9:1-17
The passage opens with an instruction to the twelve who are being sent on a missionary journey. They are told to take nothing with them - to travel light. Further on we have the story of the feeding of five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish - which typically would not be enough for five thousand people. In light of the shipwreck story where Paul tells his shipmates that they will survive, but not much of their stuff will survive with them, these stories from Luke drive home the point that we can do much with little in the way of material resources. And further makes the point that we are our most valuable resource for making a difference. How will God use us.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
"I'm Not Dead. I Think I'll Go For A Walk" - October 12, 2010
Daily Lectionary for October 12, 2010
Psalm 119:1-24
Hosea 12:2-14
Acts 26:24-27:8
Luke 8:40-56
Luke 8:40-56
Jairus' daughter dies while Jesus is en route to save her. He arrives to anguished folks "weeping and wailing for her". Jesus says, "'Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.' And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead."(vs.52 and 53) Jesus calls the girl to life and the parents are astounded and all seems to end well. The place I want to focus is on the awareness of the people that the girl is dead. There are several instances, including Jesus death and resurrection, where folks in the Bible are dead and then return to life. One of the outs which some want to apply to the text is that these were ancient people who weren't really as adept as we are at telling when someone was dead. As though these were backwards folks who went about handing out death certificates to people with a slight cold. These stories are not told so we can figure out how it was that lightly sick people were mistakenly declared dead. Scripture tells these stories to impart to us the power of Christ who can call people from death to life. I think folks in Bible times saw death enough that they knew what it was. And I believe that when Jesus chose to (and when he chooses to) he can indeed call people from death to life.
Psalm 119:1-24
Hosea 12:2-14
Acts 26:24-27:8
Luke 8:40-56
Luke 8:40-56
Jairus' daughter dies while Jesus is en route to save her. He arrives to anguished folks "weeping and wailing for her". Jesus says, "'Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.' And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead."(vs.52 and 53) Jesus calls the girl to life and the parents are astounded and all seems to end well. The place I want to focus is on the awareness of the people that the girl is dead. There are several instances, including Jesus death and resurrection, where folks in the Bible are dead and then return to life. One of the outs which some want to apply to the text is that these were ancient people who weren't really as adept as we are at telling when someone was dead. As though these were backwards folks who went about handing out death certificates to people with a slight cold. These stories are not told so we can figure out how it was that lightly sick people were mistakenly declared dead. Scripture tells these stories to impart to us the power of Christ who can call people from death to life. I think folks in Bible times saw death enough that they knew what it was. And I believe that when Jesus chose to (and when he chooses to) he can indeed call people from death to life.
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